MINI is launching the facelifted John Cooper Works in Europe and has released a complete image gallery of both the hardtop and Convertible variants. The new MINI JCW features the same design updates as the rest of the lineup, with a much more aggressive front end that now hosts a bigger, more pronounced front grille surround, large side air intakes, and a bumper strip painted in body color. The rear end also gets a redesigned diffuser. As standard, the updated JCW models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, and 18-inch ones are an option.

Under the bonnet of the new MINI JCW lies a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 228 HP and 320 Nm of torque paired to either a standard six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. The manual hardtop model can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 6.3 seconds, while the automatic dropping that time to 6.1 seconds.

 

The convertible John Cooper Works features an electrically-powered soft top that can be operated at speeds up to 30 km/h, allowing you to hear more clearly the tune played by the twin 85 mm stainless steel exhaust pipes. The drop-top JCW model is also offered in the exclusive new Zesty Yellow exterior paint.

Both body styles come with a sporty suspension setup and strong Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers up front. Customers can also opt for an adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, offering both better ride quality and enhanced precision on the twisty stuff.

The redesigned central instrument panel now houses an 8.8-inch touchscreen display as standard with a new operating system for more intuitive control. More supportive JCW sports seats with integrated headrests are also present, as is a Nappa leather sports leather steering wheel with new multifunction buttons, grey contrast stitching, and a model-specific gear selector, whether you get the manual or the automatic version. Finally, the optional John Cooper Works trim offers an alternative to the standard specification, adding exterior and interior detailing in high gloss piano black, Dinamica/leather upholstery in Carbon Black, and the aforementioned adaptive suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.

 

The lineup comprises of the Classic, Signature and Iconic trim levels of both body styles, with pricing starting at US$ 32,900 for the Hardtop and US$ 38,900 for the Convertible, excluding the US$ 850 destination and handling fee. Choosing the mid-range variants will set you back at least US$ 35,900 and US$ 40,650 respectively, while the range toppers are offered from US$ 33,900 and US$ 44,900 respectively.

Highlights include the Brembo brakes, 85 mm stainless steel tailpipes, standard 17-inch light alloy wheels or optional 18-inch set, and available adaptive suspension. Powering the two is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 228 HP and 319 Nm of torque. The Hardtop comes with a six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic transmission, taking 6.1 and 5.9 seconds to accelerate to 96 km/h, while the Convertible is offered strictly with the latter option, for a 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds.