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Mini John Cooper Works EV spy photos reveal a sporty body

The fully-electric Mini Hardtops are just around the corner, and we've seen the Cooper SE pretty much revealed. But that won't be the most potent of the electric Minis. These spy shots show that there's an electric John Cooper Works model following right behind. It features a number of extra-sporty add-ons and will surely boast more power. Confirming this John Cooper Works prototype's electric nature is the almost completely filled-in grille and lack of any tailpipe. The open lower section in the grille does look a tad larger, and it incorporates parts of the aggressive front spoiler, with those pieces vertically bisecting it. There's still no hood scoop, since there's no reason for it. The front spoiler is matched by new side skirts with little winglets toward the rear. And at the back, there's a prominent rear spoiler with small fins along the top. The rear bumper has been redesigned with boxier edges and a more aggressive diffuser. This prototype is also wearing a set of split five-spoke wheels. While we've had a number of reports about specs on the two initial Mini EV Hardtops, the JCW is more of a mystery. It's safe to assume there's more power than the Mini Cooper SE's reported 215 horsepower. Our spy photographer suggested 250, and that seems reasonable as a significant increase over the SE and a boost over the 228 of the current gas-powered JCW. Suspension and possibly brake upgrades are also on the menu. It will probably get the larger 54-kWh battery that's expected, but as our photographer notes, the extra power and wider, stickier tires will probably keep it from hitting the same range as other Minis with the same pack. The aero add-ons may also create more drag, further hurting overall range. The base and SE versions of the electric Mini Hardtop should be revealed in the next few months, since it's pretty much been revealed sans specifications. The John Cooper Works will probably follow in about a year, maybe two, after to allow for some final development work and to keep the buzz going. It will also probably be the most expensive, but most exciting, version of the electric hardtop. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

BMW's DTM champ swaps rides with Mini's Dakar winner

BMW may not race in F1 any longer, and it doesn't compete with Audi and Porsche in the LMP1 class at Le Mans. It even shut down Mini's short-lived effort on the World Rally Championship. But that doesn't mean it doesn't race at all. In fact it's the current reigning champion both in DTM and at Dakar. So to highlight its varied motorsport programs, the German automaker had two of its top drivers swap rides. German driver Martin Tomczyk, who won the DTM title in 2011 and now drives for BMW, took to Nasser Al-Attiyah's Mini All4Racing Countryman on the sand dunes of Dubai. Meanwhile the Qatari driver, who has won the Dakar Rally two times now, took to the wheel of Tomczyk's BMW M4 DTM around Oschersleben in Germany. They even repeated the game of musical chairs at Hockenheim over the weekend. If anything, the promo clip shot by Red Bull just goes to show how different the varied racing machinery can be, and the challenges posed to racing drivers switching between disciplines. But lessons aside, it's a cool clip, so check it out above. Two champions swap cockpits: Martin Tomczyk drives the MINI ALL4 Racing, Nasser Al-Attiyah the BMW M4 DTM. Munich (DE), 1st May 2015. From asphalt to sand and back again: BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) and MINI ALL4 Racing ace Nasser Al-Attiyah (QA) both entered unfamiliar territory and took each other's cars for a test drive. As part of a video shoot for BMW Motorsport Premium Partner Red Bull in Dubai (AE), Tomczyk, a proven master of his trade on asphalt as the 2011 DTM Champion, took the wheel of the MINI ALL4 Racing, with which X-raid has won the famous Rally Dakar the last four years. During DTM testing in Oschersleben (DE), Al-Attiyah was given the opportunity to drive Tomczyk's BMW M Performance Parts M4 DTM. Two wins at the Rally Dakar are just some of the successes the rally driver from Qatar has had to date. He followed up his first victory in 2011 by winning in the MINI ALL4 Racing in January 2015. "Driving the MINI ALL4 Racing through the sand and over the dunes in Dubai was a fascinating experience and was so much fun," said Tomczyk. "The car has an incredible amount of torwue – and the test in the dunes was an amazing adrenalin rush even for an experienced race driver such as myself. It's totally different to driving on a circuit.

Mini delivers Paddy Hopkirk Edition car to the rally legend himself

Mini has given rally racing legend Patrick "Paddy" Hopkirk one of the first special edition Cooper S models inspired by his thrilling victory at the 1964 Rally Monte Carlo. The Paddy Hopkirk Limited Edition has a production run of just 100 units in the U.K., with "a few hundred" more coming to the U.S. Fifty-six years ago, the original Morris Mini Cooper S achieved the unthinkable with Hopkirk and navigator Henry Liddon behind the wheel of a Mk I. It won the Rally Monte Carlo overall. The race snaked through the French Alps and ended with laps around the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, but the Mini's nimbleness and tiny size and proved to be advantages in the snowy and narrow mountain roads. It was a tremendous feat against more powerful competitors from Mercedes-Benz, Saab, Volvo, Citroen and Ford's V8 Falcon. Hopkirk calls it a "David and Goliath" victory, especially with the money other automakers were spending on the event. "We were beaten by the big American cars down the straights, but we would beat them on the twisty bits!" he reminisced upon taking delivery. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The Paddy Hopkirk Limited Edition sees no performance upgrades, keeping the turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder capable of 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Both six-speed manuals and a 7-speed automatic are offered, but the thing that sets it apart are the Chili Red and white roof colorway with the number 37 on the doors, a tribute to the winning rally car's livery. An offset white hood stripe with the code "33 EJB" in it hearkens back to Hopkirk's car's registration number. "I’m so flattered to have a Mini named in my honor." Hopkirk said upon receiving the car. "Motorsport is long behind me now and for my win at the Monte Carlo Rally to be remembered in this way is a great thrill and honor." 2021 Mini Hardtop Cooper S View 15 Photos Related Video: