John Cooper Works was introduced in 2002 as a dealer option for the new Mini Cooper, offering performance upgrades like a new exhaust and a remapped ECU. Recently, Mini’s JCW badge has become its full-on performance sub-brand, similar to BMW M, and it is set to continue even in the electric era.

Vice President of Mini Americas, Mike Peyton, and Global Head of Mini Product, Christian Wehner, are both firmly committed to retaining JCW as Mini embraces electrification.

Christian Wehner emphasizes the importance of JCW and the objective of introducing John Cooper Works into the electric era. Mike Peyton echoes this sentiment, hinting at the development of more performance-oriented EVs under JCW.

However, maintaining the trademark “go-kart” driving experience of Mini poses a challenge for JCW EVs due to the added weight of battery packs. Wehner explains that the focus is not solely on acceleration but on striking the right balance between power and agility.

“All electric cars have good acceleration,” he says, “but do all of these electric cars deliver go-kart fun? Definitely not. Because other things come into play, the weight of the car, the steering of the car, how it feels to sit in the car.”

Chris Sutton acknowledges the challenge of maintaining the distinct Mini driving experience in JCW EVs, highlighting the importance of finding the right balance to uphold the Mini brand’s identity.

While the arrival of JCW EVs signals the shift towards electrification, it does not mark the end of gas engines yet. Wehner explains that until the BMW Group achieves 50 percent electrification by 2030, the company will continue producing four combustion engines alongside four electric motors for upcoming JCW cars.

Mike Peyton notes that with the growing demand for gasoline JCWs, the transition to full electrification is still several years away, particularly in North America.

While it is known that manual Minis with combustion engines are on the decline, there is a possibility of offering manual options for JCW EVs. Chris Sutton expresses consideration for maintaining the manual experience in the context of electrification.