Skip advert
Advertisement

Mini Works GP hatchback only

The hardcore Mini John Cooper Works GP is set to be hatchback only, and there'll be no Nurburgring record attempt

The Mini John Cooper Works GP will be made as a hatchback only. There have been spy shots of Mini Coupes believed to have more hardcore upgrades, and a two-door GP with sportier styling would seem a logical step forward for the brand. But the GP’s development chief Jorg Weidinger has all but killed off the chances of further GP variants, despite the heavy investment that’s gone into the special edition’s all-new suspension components and bespoke Kumho Ecsta tyres. ‘For the moment there are no plans to share these components with any other Minis’ Weidinger told evo. ‘The GP has history: it was a hatch, it is a hatch and it should stay a hatch.’

Advertisement - Article continues below

He also ruled out a chase for any Nurburgring headlines, despite the new GP lapping the Nordschleife substantially quicker than its predecessor, and its 8min23sec time hauling it towards the front-wheel-drive records set by various Renaultsport Meganes.

‘The Nurburgring was just for development. We did lap times during our runs, of course, and it’s 19sec faster than its predecessor. At the moment a record attempt is not planned.’

2013 Mini John Cooper Works GP review here

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Driving America’s Nürburgring and upsetting the law – car pictures of the week
Mini JCW on the Tail of the Dragon
Features

Driving America’s Nürburgring and upsetting the law – car pictures of the week

In the latest issue of evo, we sample the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee to find out whether it’s among the world’s greatest driving roads. These are…
14 Feb 2026
Mini JCW convertible 2025 review – softer JCW adds appeal but also compromises
Mini JCW convertible
Reviews

Mini JCW convertible 2025 review – softer JCW adds appeal but also compromises

The JCW convertible is usefully less aggressive on the road than the hatch, but suffers the usual soft-top compromises too
12 Aug 2025
Mini JCW 2025 review – too feisty for its own good
Mini JCW – front
Reviews

Mini JCW 2025 review – too feisty for its own good

The petrol-powered JCW lives on – for now. But in its latest incarnation, has this supermini survivor become too hardcore?
6 Jul 2025
Mini JCW Electric 2025 review – the Alpine A290 has nothing to worry about
Mini JCW Electric – front
Reviews

Mini JCW Electric 2025 review – the Alpine A290 has nothing to worry about

Mini has given its new-generation electric hatch the JCW treatment, with Alpine’s A290 in its sights. The results are… mixed
4 Jun 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Used car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money
F12 Used car deals
News

Used car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money

We dive into the classifieds this week to find the very best performance cars for the least amount of money, including a cut-price V12 Ferrari
13 Feb 2026
2027 Range Rover spied – Land Rover’s luxury icon sharpens up
Range Rover prototype
News

2027 Range Rover spied – Land Rover’s luxury icon sharpens up

The fifth-generation Range Rover is due a mid-life facelift soon. We’ve spied it
12 Feb 2026
Abarth 695 (2012-2024) review – why we’ll miss Italy’s Mini Cooper S rival
Abarth 695 – front
Reviews

Abarth 695 (2012-2024) review – why we’ll miss Italy’s Mini Cooper S rival

The Abarth 695 (and all Abarth 500s in fact) have a sense of humour the hot hatch segment will sorely miss
13 Feb 2026