Mini launches John Cooper Works GP Inspired Edition for Rs 46.9 lakh
When Mini announced the JCW GP it was all but certain that it won’t come to India. It is too hardcore, too expensive and super limited. What it has done is bring in the next best thing — the JCW GP Inspired Edition. Think of it like what an ‘M Sport’ BMW is to a proper M car. The JCW GP Inspired Edition gets cool cosmetic upgrades, but stays identical to the standard JCW under the hood, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What it does retain from the JCW GP is exclusivity.
Cosmetics
The JCW GP Inspired Edition is well, ‘inspired’ by the JCW GP and gets the ‘Racing Grey Metallic’ paint along with a silver roof and red accents, which do remind you of the GP. It also gets new 18-inch rims and a piano black finish on the door handles, fuel filler cap, front grille surround and on the headlights and taillights. There’s also a splattering of JCW and ‘GP’ badges on the outside and the inside.
Speaking of the inside, the KCW GP Inspired Edition gets GP badging on the JCW Sports seats, red stitching, a ‘Walkanappa’ leather wrapped steering wheel and that’s most of the cosmetic changes. It sill gets the circular instrument panel, with a 6.5-inch infotainment display and even a Harmon Kardon sound system.
While the cosmetic changes are few, they do make a difference in how it all comes together. Sure, the JCW GP’s massive wing and arch extensions are missing but that makes it a little less silly and maybe even a touch cooler because it isn’t shouting out its intentions.
Mechanicals
Under the hood of the JCW GP Inspired Edition is a two-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 228bhp and 320Nm of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and it also gets a limited-slip diff to improve dynamics. In terms of performance, Mini claims it can hit the 100kmph mark in 6.1 seconds. For reference, the JCW GP produces 302bhp and a staggering 450Nm of torque, does 0 to 100kmph in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 265kmph. Okay, the difference isn’t night and day but it isn’t insignificant either.
Competition & Pricing
There isn’t really much competition for it here in India, considering the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hatchback isn’t on sale anymore. Perhaps its closest rival would be the Octavia RS 245, although that is sold out too. Mercedes is expected to launch the A 35 AMG in India very soon, but that is coming in a sedan body style.
The JCW GP Inspired Edition costs Rs 46.9 lakh, around Rs 3 lakh more than the standard car. For the money you’re getting a hot-hatch with adequate reserves of power that you can actually put down onto the road. The only catch is that if you want one you might just be too late since Mini is only bringing 15 examples of the JCW GP Inspired Edition to India.
