2020 MINI JCW Clubman, Countryman Boasts 306 Hp

MINI certainly didn’t start out as a high-performance car, but after figuring prominently in a couple of iconic vehicle chases in two Hollywood movies--"The Bourne Identity" and "The Italian Job"--race car drivers soon tried to unleash the small car's racing potential. Recognizing a possibly lucrative market for the MINI, the BMW-owned car brand soon  launched the John Cooper Works (JCW) variants of its Clubman and Countryman models. Both have the distinction of being the most powerful Minis in the brand's 60-year existence.

For 2020, MINI is upping the ante on both cars, with each getting its own 306-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine, which is 75 hp more powerful than the model it replaces. The engine will be able to handle the added power thanks to a stronger crankshaft, lower compression ratio, and improved pistons and rods. The car is also getting 450 Nm.

Power is delivered to the wheels by a souped-up all-wheel-drive system with mechanical limited slip differential. The system mainly works in front-drive mode until it detects slippage, then that's when it sends power to the rear. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard on all models, as does a launch control function that helps the car achieve rapid acceleration from a complete stop. All these enhancements help the JCW Clubman and Countryman hit their 0-100 kph in 5 seconds for the Clubman and 5.3 seconds for the Countryman, an improvement of about 1.5 seconds each.

Aside from power, MINI also imbued upgrades to the handling and braking departments. Both models come with added chassis bracing plus some minor suspension tweaks. The rear brakes now have fixed four-piston calipers. As for brake rotor measurements, the front is 14.2 inches in diameter, and the rear 13 inches.

All the updates tend to be mechanical in nature, but there are a few visual improvements as well, albeit very minor. The most obvious change is in the Clubman's main grille insert and new Union Jack taillights. The Countryman remains basically unchanged.

When the car will hit dealerships, and how much the models would cost remain unannounced.