MINI Cooper JCW Electric

Expanding its line-up with a new performance-oriented model, the new MINI Cooper JCW Electric, officially launched in Malaysia.

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the B-segment (compact hatchback) contender underpins MINI’s Spotlight Platform (co-developed - BMW, GWM).

Fully imported (CBU – China), available via MINI Malaysia (BMW Group Malaysia) is one variant (Cooper SE JCW E – MYR 218,888).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) covers a standard warranty (two years, unlimited mileage), a Roadside Assistance program (five years) and an EV battery warranty (eight years/160,000 KM).

Optional (MYR 6,300) is a MINI extended warranty (four years, unlimited mileage) and service package (free – four years, unlimited mileage).

Three (dual-tone: contrast roof – Chilli Red) exterior colours (Legend Grey, Nanuq White, Midnight Black). One interior colour (dual-tone – JCW Black-Red).

The new Cooper JCW E gets a minimalistic and slim dashboard design, linked to a low-rise centre console (storage, wireless charger).

JCW Trim outfitted, it sees soft-/hard-touched panels (dash, centre console, doors) in dual-tone (JCW Black-Red) 2D-knitted fabric (Houndstooth) upholstery.

Filling-up the spaces are a floating circular central screen display (MINI Round Display – instrument cluster, infotainment) and roundly rectangular air-conditioning vents.

Unique, depending on the drive modes (MINI Experience Modes) selected, the setup features a light projector (Beamer) displaying patterns onto the dash.

Inclusively, the layout is airy and non-cluttered, with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

A dual-functioning (instrument cluster/infotainment) floating-circular central display (MINI Interaction Unit – MINI OLED Round display), installed is a 9.4-Inch OLED touchscreen, incorporating a MINI Head-Up Display (HUD).

Running on the MINI Operating System 9 (MINI OS 9 – Android), it supports MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice control system – ‘Hey MINI’ – MINI/Spike – MINI avatar), MINI Navigation AR, MINI Experience Modes (Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Personal, Trail), MINI JCW Mode (performance data: speed, torque, KW power, G-force) and MINI App (MINI Digital Key Plus – remote control – smartphone).

Premium, the interior continues the JCW Trim treatment, featuring leatherette (Vescin beading/cord) upholstery (seats) in one colour scheme (dual-tone – JCW Black-Red).

The front gets electric-powered (driver/passenger – multi-way, driver-massage, memory) JCW (John Cooper Works) sport seats. 

The rear comes with a manual-operated (two-seater: 60:40 split-fold, individual-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), ambient lights (multi-colour – MINI Experience Modes), an anthracite headliner (Black) and a panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open/close, tilt/slide, sunshade).

A compact hatchback (four-seater, two-door), the cabin offers adequate space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke JCW sport steering wheel (JCW Trim), wrapped in leather (Vescin – Black) and fabric (Houndstooth – lower spoke) with contrast trims (Chilli Red).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings) and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., door/seat back pockets, centre console caverned/partitioned spaces and a glove box.

Available are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and two bottle holders (one – side doors).

Provided are two USB ports (two – front), one 12 V socket (front) and a wireless charger (front).

Accessing its electric-tailgate (contactless - key fob, sensor, button), opens to 210-Litres (rear seats up) and 800-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 1,650 KG, the new Cooper JCW E measures at 3,858 MM long, 1,756 MM wide, 1,460 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,526 MM.

Electrifyingly sleek, its seamlessly rounded exterior combines MINI’s ‘Charismatic Simplicity’ design language with the JCW sportiness.

The front-end sees a side-raised bonnet (‘MINI’ emblem), rounded quarter panels, an octagonal grille (closed insert, ‘JCW’ emblem) and a vented bumper (two-piece-central, vertical-corners).

Outfitted is the JCW Trim, featuring aggressive-looking details (Piano Black: grille, central vents, headlamp/window surrounds, side mirror arms – Chilli Red: corner vents, bonnet sport stripes, side mirror caps, roof).

Accentuations, body clad (Piano Black – bumper, fenders, side sills) and ‘MINI’/‘JCW’ (Black/Black-White-Red) emblems.

Smoothly athletic, it continues the seamlessly rounded exterior, emphasising MINI’s ‘Charismatic Simplicity’ design language with the JCW sportiness.

The rear-end sees a straight-cut roofline, a roof-edge spoiler, a tapered tailgate (centre bar, ‘MINI’/’Cooper’ emblem/script) and a covered bumper (diffuser, exhaust-deleted).

Outfitted is the JCW Trim, featuring aggressive-looking details (Piano Black: roof-edge spoiler, tailgate centre bar, diffuser, tail lamp/window surrounds – Chilli Red: roof).

Accentuations, body clad (Piano Black – bumper, fenders, side sills) and ‘MINI’, ‘Cooper/‘JCW’ (Black/Black-White-Red) emblems.

Circular with darkened internals, the headlamps are iconic posing as key features to the MINI face. Installed are Bi-LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off/rain-sensing, adaptive beams (low/high), perimeter Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), cornering/welcome lights, High-Beam Assist (HBA), customisable lighting function (three light signatures) and turn signals (LED).

Triangular with darkened perimeters and MINI’s Union Jack light graphic, the tail lamps are iconic of the MINI. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, turn signals (LED), welcome lights and customisable lighting function (three light signatures).

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Piano Black-Chilli Red) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust, tilt).

Features are turn-signals (LED), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection – BSD), automatic dimming (driver), automatic-parking (tilt), memory, heating and MINI logo ground projection.

Installed are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes, featuring JCW Performance Brakes with coloured callipers (Chilli Red).

Aiding the setup are Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and brake energy recuperation systems.

Exclusive, it surges on a set of 18-Inch five-two-spoke (JCW Lap Spoke) dual-tone (Black-Silver) aluminium-alloy rims, wrapped in 215/45 R18 (front, rear) sport tyres.

The new Cooper JCW E features the ‘MINI Driving Assistant’ suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Active Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go, Steering/Lane Control Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Warning (RCTW) with Brake Intervention, Rear Collision Prevention (RCP), Exit Warning (EW), Park Assist (Reversing Assistant, Lateral Parking Aid, Surround View System – 360-degree camera, Remote 3D-view – MINI App), Speed Limit Info, Automatic Speed Limit, Attentiveness Assistant and High-Beam Assistant (HBA).

Other systems include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Dry Braking (wet condition), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Active Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Hill-Start Assist (HSA) and Post-Crash Collision Warning with Braking Function.

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front-sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (anchors, pretensioners, reminders), ISOFIX (two – rear seats), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six – front, rear), side mirrors (BSD, automatic parking, heating), automatic-anti-dazzle/-dimming rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), door ajar warning, attentive assist (interior), acoustic protection (pedestrians), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), BMW Drive Recorder (dash cam) and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Selectable are three drive modes (Core, Go-Kart, Green). Incorporated is One-Pedal Drive (regenerative braking).

A dual-functioning (instrument cluster/infotainment) floating-circular central display (MINI Interaction Unit – MINI OLED Round display), installed is a 9.4-Inch OLED touchscreen, incorporating a MINI Head-Up Display (HUD).

Running on the MINI Operating System 9 (MINI OS 9 – Android), it supports MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice control system – ‘Hey MINI’ – MINI/Spike – MINI avatar), MINI Navigation AR, MINI Experience Modes (Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Personal, Trail) and MINI App (MINI Digital Key Plus – remote control – smartphone).

Entertainment is channelled via a setup of the Harman Kardon Hi-Fi loudspeaker system.

Embedded in the new Cooper JCW E is an all-electric powertrain (BEV).

Nestled is a single-electric-motor setup (front-mounted), generating 190 KW (258 HP) and 350 NM.

Fused to the e-motor is a single-speed automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H takes 5.9 seconds and top speed is 200 KM/H.

Juicing-up the e-motor is an underfloor-mounted Lithium-Ion (Nickel Manganese Cobalt – NMC) battery (54.2 KWH), enabling an electric driving range of 363 KM – 371 KM (WLTP).

AC charging (Type 2 - 11 KW) takes 5.15 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (CCS2 - 95 KW) takes 30 minutes for a 10% to 80% SoC.

Included is a charging cable (Type 2 - Mode 3) and a flexible fast charger cable (adapter, 2.3 KW).

The new Cooper JCW E features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless-easy-entry unlock, engine Start/Stop button, MINI Digital Key Plus: remote engine start, Start/Stop charging), dual-zone automatic climate control (rear vents, preconditioning), interior lighting (map, reading, boot, ambient), MINI Interaction Unit (MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, MINI Experience Modes, MINI AR Navigation, MINI JCW Mode, MINI App), MINI Driving Assistant (ADAS), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six – front, rear), side mirrors (BSD, automatic parking, heating, memory), automatic-anti-dazzle/-dimming rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), automatic-dipping interior rear-view mirror, door ajar warning, attentive assist (interior), acoustic protection (pedestrians), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering/rain-sensing), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, EPAS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, electric-powered (driver/passenger – multi-way, driver-massage, memory) JCW (John Cooper Works) sport seats (front), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), a panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open/close, tilt/slide, sunshade) and a wireless charger.

Installed is a dual-zone automatic climate control system (rear vents, pre-conditioning).

Propping-up the chassis (JCW Sporty Setting) are MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions, incorporating twin-tube gas-filled pressure dampers and stiff sway bars.

Overall solid, refined and agile (low-centre gravity), the ride quality is MINI (Go-Kart experience), and the all-electric drive offers a wonderfully smooth power delivery.

Good sound insulation, with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin can suppress wind, road and tyre noises well, making them barely noticeable at all speeds, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.

The new MINI Cooper JCW Electric is in a class of its own. Enveloped by an elegant and a sporty appeal that commands a presence like no other.

Quality of the equipment and materials installed inside impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

Underpinning an all-electric powertrain, it offers an electrifying driving experience (MINI Go-Kart electrified experience) only a MINI is able to.

Ultimately, the new Cooper JCW E is just a strong character, a great compact hatchback that offers a striking outlook, sporty performance and practicality all in one.