World Premier: 2025 MINI Countryman JCW Officially Debuts

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It’s finally here. MINI is taking the wraps off its ultimate Countryman; the all new 300 hp MINI Countryman JCW. We’ve given you several early looks of the new Countryman JCW but until now MINI hasn’t officially released much info on it. That ends today with the official debut of MINI’s most powerful internal combustion model of its new generation of cars.

This new Countryman JCW will eventually be joined by an all electric Countryman JCW with even more power and torque. But if you want your Countryman JCW to be petrol powered, this is the one.

2025 MINI Countryman JCW: Performance

However if you’re expecting MINI to up the power for this new, larger Countryman you’ll be disappointed. In fact MINI has done the opposite. Powered by the familiar B48 2.0 four cylinder turbo, this new Countryman JCW has 300 hp vs the 306 hp in the current car (301 in the US).

One interesting note; the practice of US market cars getting less than their European equivalents maybe over. For instance the BMW X1 M35i in Germany makes do with 295 hp while the US version gets 313 hp. That appears to be down to more stringent CO2 standards and programing. Could this mean we’ll see a full 313 hp in the US Countryman JCW?

Whatever happens in the US market, this 300 hp version goes from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The F60 version of the Countryman JCW is actually quicker at 5.1 seconds to 62 mph while topping out at only 140 mph.

We know the U25 Countryman has grown in size noticeably but until recently we didn’t have a full understanding what that did to its weight. It turns out not as much as we had feared. The previous F60 2023 JCW Countryman weighs 3,688 lbs. Compare that to the all new U25 JCW Countryman at 3,825 lbs and you have only a 137 lbs difference. While any weight increase detrimental to performance, it’s than you would have expected given the growth in size. That’s likely due to the various weight savings measures that BMW built into the new FAAR platform including extensive use of aluminum and lighter steel.

Another area that surprised us was that the ICE powered JCW Countryman is not a mild-hybrid whereas the Countryman C and S both are. We’ve heard rumors of a hot version of the B48 ready for release later this decade of near 330 hp – could that be the mild-hybrid version waiting for an introduction in a few years?

A big area of improvement is in the Countryman’s aero. The previous F60 version had a drag coefficient of 0.34Cd compared to 0.26Cd for the new U25 Countryman JCW. That improvement helps mostly with efficiency but it also allows for better high-speed stability.

MINI has worked on the sound of the car by engineering the exhaust with a flap system allowing for more sound in sport mode and at higher revs. Like the F60 this new U25 Countryman JCW also uses the ActiveSound system which synthesizes the engine sound pumping its through speakers in the floor even more than before. And yes it can still be turned off.

MINI has also tweaked the tire and wheel size making both larger. The tire diameter, which has been increased by 30 mm, is now 710 mm and the increased tire width of 245 mm enhances grip. The corresponding wheels are been sized up as well and are now offered in 19″ and 20″ sizes with exclusive JCW designs.

MINI hasn’t released information on the chassis upgrades or brakes but expect similar levels of performance engineered in to both. As before the brakes look monstrous and will likely be a highly as they were on the F60.

Finally there’s the boost feature. When the driver pulls and holds the left-hand shift paddle for at least one second, all the powertrain and chassis systems are switched to their sportiest setting giving a driver maximum performance for a short amount of time. No details have been released on the specifics but we love the idea.

MINI’s First Level 2 Autonomous Features

The new MINI JCW Countryman features 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround-view cameras creating a system that enables Level 2 autonomous features. The system is called Driving Assistant Professional and it’s a massive improvement over the previous adaptive cruise. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman enables partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. However until today we didn’t have some of the final technical details.

When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time.

We’ve used this system in BMW’s extensively and it really does work as advertised – you can take your hands off the wheel entirely as long as your eyes are on the road. The car will stop, go, turn and even change lanes on command using the turn signal.

The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active

Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind.

This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The MINI will let know when it’s successfully on via two green lights on the steering wheel. When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange.

The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman embodies a unique combination of style, power and a sense of adventure. With its powerful 300 hp engine and sporty design, it is the perfect companion for anyone looking for something special.

Stefanie Wurst, head of the MINI brand

While MINI is focused on that Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams, it’s the higher speed (above 38 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering and lane guidance assistant and also includes lane keeping, lane change assistant with active side collision protection and the emergency stop assistant.

The New Design Elements of the 2025 MINI Countryman JCW

MINI claims the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman has a bold and sporty look that “reflects its performance and versatility”. We get that but we’ll withhold our ultimate judgement until we get some hands-on time shortly. Until then it’s clear MINI designers have added elements to signal performance capabilities along with plenty of nods to racing. There’s new vertical reflectors in the front, a JCW signature mode in the headlights and a high-gloss octagonal grille complete with the sub-brand’s new logo.

On this Legend Grey launch color scheme the C-pillar is finished in Chili Red and joins the contrasting roof. It’s a bold look and one we’re honestly not sure we could live with. But the effect of the roof curving down towards the rear, gives the new Countryman a more svelte silhouette despite its increased height and width. It’s a more brash car than before but one that could likely be toned down with the right specification choices.

The 2025 MINI Countryman Interior

Like the rest of the new MINI models, the interior features a reduced design. The cockpit is divided into an upper and lower section, with vertical door handles and air vents in the upper area. MINI clams that this emphasizes the upright and larger overall impression of the car. Having been in the new Countryman we can attest to that. But here there’s a bold red and black color scheme that extends to the dashboard, the door panels and on the new JCW sports seats. Again it’s a bit brash for us and one that can be optioned out if needed. Like the rest of the new MINI range, the dashboard is made of a two-tone textile made from recycled polyester and the interior prominently features the new circular display.

Our Early Take

This is a very different car than the original R60 MINI Countryman JCW. Larger and more sophisticated, it’s lost some of the striking smallness of the original Countryman JCW but has gained a tremendous amount of utility and performance (despite losing a touch to the last generation). Will it still feel like a JCW from behind the wheel? We can’t wait to find out.

2025 MINI Countryman JCW Photo Gallery

2025 MINI Countryman JCW Technical Specifications

U25 Countryman Model	Countryman SE	Countryman S	JCW
Power	313 hp	241 hp	300 hp
Torque	TBD	295 lb	295 lb
Transmission	1 Speed	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT
Drivetrain	all-wheel	all-wheel	all-wheel
Powertrain type	electric	petrol	petrol
Cylinders	n/a	4	4
Displacement	n/a	1998	1998
Engine Power	N/A	TBD	313 hp
Engine Torque	N/A	TBD	295 lb
Electric Power	313 hp	19 hp	N/A
Electric Torque	TBD	TBD	N/A
Electric Range (WLTP)	270 miles	N/A	N/A
0-62 mph	TBD	TBD	5.4
Maximum speed	112 mph	TBD	155 mph
WLTP l/100 km	N/A	TBD	34 – 36.2
WLTP CO2	N/A	TBD	188 – 177
Length (mm/inches)	4444 / 175	4444 / 175	4444 / 175
Width (mm/inches)	1843 / 73	1843 / 73	1843 / 73
Height (mm)	TBD	TBD	1665 / 66
Wheelbase (mm)	2069 / 81	2069 / 81	2069 / 81
Curb weight (LBS)	TBD	TBD	3,825 lbs
Fuel Capacity L/Gallons	N/A	54 / 14.3	54 / 14.3
Luggage capacity (liters)	TBD	TBD	505 – 1530 L

The post World Premier: 2025 MINI Countryman JCW Officially Debuts first appeared on MotoringFile.

The post World Premier: 2025 MINI Countryman JCW Officially Debuts appeared first on MotoringFile.

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