First Look at the Electric MINI Cooper JCW

DimON · December 6, 2023

Since MINI announced they were going all electric y 2030 fans have been wondering what that will mean for the performance oriented JCW brand. Today we’re getting our first official view at what they will look like. No this isn’t the MINI Cooper JCW we’ve all been waiting for but sources tell us that the Cooper S with JCW Trim we see here is nearly it – except for some important details.

Why is MINI offering the look of JCW without the performance? In the words of Oliver Heimler, the brand wanted to give customers the choice without having to compromise on range or comfort. However not all markets will follow this approach. For instance MINI USA intends to keep the JCW Trim you see here off the options list for all non JCW models.

What Will The electric MINI Cooper JCW Look Like?

A lot like this. The JCW Trim you see here has the JCW body kit on it with almost all the details down to the badging. But there will be a few important differences.

One difference won’t be color as it was with Rebel Green. Both the electric MINI Cooper JCW and the Cooper SE in JCW Trim you see here will be available in an exclusive color called Legend Grey. Replacing Rebel Green as the JCW color, Legend Grey is a dark metallic grey that is designed to work well with black or Chili Red details. That also means we will not see the iconic white contrasting roof as an option on the JCW. At least not initially.

Not exclusive are the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke wheels you see here. They reportedly will be the optional wheel on the full JCW as well as the JCW trim. They will also be nearly identical on the petrol powered F66 JCW as well. Perhaps most important to JCW fans is how MINI has subtle changed the wheel size allowing for a better fit of the larger brake calipers. This means the new JCW wheels on both the J01 and F66 won’t bow outward as some do now.

About those brakes. What we see here aren’t the JCW brakes we’ll see in the full JCW model. Those will be exclusive to the JCW and will feature four pistons calipers upfront along with a more aggressive brake pad.

While there will be a slight change to some trim and the front splitter on the full MINI Cooper JCW those differences will be small and likely not entirely noticeable to the casual fan.

The design of both the JCW Trim and the full MINI Cooper JCW take the minimal look of the Cooper and add quite a few visual elements. The two-piece front splitter, the piano black trim and the design elements on the corners are the distinctive features that set the JCW Trim apart from the standard car. Around the side there’s a new aero optimized side skirt that is the most aggressive from MINI to date. Finally around back MINI designers have added a small diffuser and subtle horizontal slats that connect visually to the front design.

the New JCW interior

The JCW seats combine MINI’s new Vescin synthetic leather with red stitching and multi-coloured knitted material in the shoulder section. The black and red color concept is continued on the 2d-knit covering the interior of the door and the dashboard – the passenger side of which is adorned with the JCW-specific pattern in style of a chequered flag.

At launch there are no other interior options for the JCW Trim. Sources tell us to expect several unique design elements on the full JCW model.

We’ll have more on the forthcoming electric MINI Cooper JCW in the months ahead along with a preview of the last MINI Cooper JCW in ICE form as well.