Official Preview: The First Ever Electric MINI JCW

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Our First Look at the Electric MINI Cooper JCW Along with Exclusive Info on Power, Release Date and US Availability

Behold, the first ever all electric MINI Cooper JCW. Yes it’s still camouflaged and no this isn’t the full real. That means MINI isn’t releasing any technical details on the car at all. However despite the lack of official info, There much we already know about the new JCW and a few new thing that these photos tell us.

J01 MINI Cooper w/JCW Trim

J01 MINI JCW

J01 MINI Cooper w/JCW Trim

J01 MINI JCW

2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW – Design

Let’s start with design. The prototype preview we see above has been covered in the same track decal camouflage that we saw on the F66 JCW which raced and won it’s class at there Nurburgring 24 Hours. Even the Bulldog Racing stickers are here likely as a nod to the petrol-powered car that raced.

As we predicted last year, the JCW Trim design we’ve seen on the standard J01 MINI Cooper will form the basis of the full JCW model. So much so that they will be very hard to distinguish for the average consumer. Whether you think that’s a mistake by MINI (we certainly do) or like the egalitariun approach, it does help us get a clear picture of the final design.

As you can see above there are almost no visible differences between the cars. But there are if you look closer. For one the brakes on the full JCW model will be slightly larger and will come with Chili Red calipers. Second the word “Cooper” is no where to be found. Instead MINI is going more minimal and will only have the new JCW logo on the front and back of the car.

We had hoped that there would be some added elements of functional aero like a rear defuser or front brake ducts. But the amount of aero optimization to get the drag coefficient down likely eliminated anything along those lines.

Otherwise that’s it. There are no exclusive colors or other styling elements. Even the “exclusive” Legend Grey exterior color is freely optional on the JCW Trim (as you can see above). The only thing we can hold out hope for is the potential for exclusive wheels as the only photos we have thus far are of the car in motion.

For those following MotoringFile, none of this should be a surprise. For this new MINI family, the brand’s strategy has been to allow anyone to make their MINI (no matter the performance level) look like a JCW. As long as you can afford to check the right boxes of course.

2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW – Performance

The electric MINI JCW will easily surpass the petrol power F66 MINI Cooper JCW. Sources tell us to expect a power output of around 260 hp vs 231 hp from the F66. Similarly the torque will be quite a bit greater giving the J01 JCW a much more responsive feel. 0-60 times will likely be in the mid to high 5 second range. Top speed will be interesting as MINI has been limiting its electric cars to 170 km/h (105.6 mph) due to the car’s already limited range. We don’t have info here but we’d guess MINI will allow for a higher top-speed but nothing close to the 155 mph that we see in the petrol powered U25 MINI Countryman JCW.

Speaking of range, our sources tell us that the battery size will remain the same as the SE models. Because of the increased performance, we’d expect range to decrease a bit – perhaps as much as 5-10%. That could take the 250 mile WLTP range down to between 225-237 miles.

The J01 doesn’t have a multi-speed transmission but there will still be one paddle behind the steering wheel. Like in the Countryman SE, our sources tell us that MINI will introduce a “boost” function that gives you more power for a 10-second period. This will be operational via a paddle behind the steering wheel on the left side.

2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW – Chassis and Brake Updates

MINI will follow its typical formula with mild revisions to suspension settings from the standard J01 SE rather than a wholesale suspension redesign that we’d see in a BMW M car. Think of this new JCW (and all standard JCW models for that matter) as following the BMW M Performance strategy of upgrading suspension and braking components rather than anything radically different.

This means we’ll likely see braking system similar (if not the same) as the F56 and F66’s 4-piston fixed caliper up front with internally ventilated drilled brake disks (335x30mm). In the back MINI will likely continue with a single-piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm in size. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red – perhaps the easiest visual giveaway that this is a true JCW.

How Does the 2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW Drive?

We have no doubt it will b a blast. But the only insight we have on this topic comes courtesy of an Australian publication who spoke with Patrick Haussler, the J01 MINI Cooper’s head of chassis dynamics. At the recent Australian launch of the Cooper SE, he let slip a few intriguing details; “I think everybody is quite happy with how the [regular MINI Cooper Electric] cars turned out and the Johnny [the J01 JCW], is nearly finished, so there’s not too much refinement left to do. There’s still some work [beyond the handling dynamics] but I already like it very much. The things that you like with the Cooper SE, you will like it even more with Johnny.”

Let’s just start with the fact that the internal nickname for the new JCW is somewhat hilariously “Johnny”. Sounds great to us. But more importantly in the simplest terms Haussler is saying that the J01 MINI JCW has turned up all of the performance aspects of the standard J01 in a noticeable way. Which sounds promising – especially given that this will be the heaviest MINI Cooper JCW of all time with a curb weight of likely over 3,500 lbs.

2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW – Launch Timing and North American Availability

Both the electric and petrol JCW models will debut October 24th right here on MotoringFile. Production of the combustion F66 will start in November while the electric J01 will kick-off in January.

Model	Power	Debut Date	Start of Production
J01 JCW (electric)	260 hp*	10/2024	01/2025
F66 JCW (petrol)	231 hp	10/2024	11/2024

* Unconfirmed

The J01 MINI Cooper JCW like all new small electric MINIs are made in China in collaboration with Great Wall Motors. Why? Designing and engineering cars for global markets is a huge investment for a small brand like MINI and doing that for both an electric and internal combustion is nearly impossible. So MINI partners with Spotlight Motors – a joint venture between MINI and Great Wall Motors from China to gain scale and production expertise. Unfortunately months after the ink was dry a global trade war escalated with tariffs on Chinese cars in the US. Since then things have only gotten worse for MINI with similar tariffs being announced in Europe and the UK made in Europe.

Given these moves, MINI has aggressively changed its plans and announced its intention to produce its new electric models in Oxford. After a major expansion, the plan will begin producing the J01, J03 and J05 from 2026 onward. This move will open the door for North American export with no tariffs applied likely around 2026.

2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW – Photo Gallery

Official MINI Release: First Electric MINI John Cooper Works to Debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed Ahead of its World Premiere.

The MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype marks a significant milestone as the first-ever electric MINI John Cooper Works model. Featuring a striking design and advanced electric powertrain, this prototype embodies MINI’s commitment to innovation and electromobility.

Celebrating its world premiere later this year, the MINI John Cooper Works E represents a bold move in MINI’s evolution, combining the brand’s rich heritage with cutting-edge technology. The future John Cooper Works lineup will include both petrol and all-electric models.

In a nod to MINI’s historic victory of the Mini Cooper S at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo 60 years ago, the racecar features a distinctive camouflage designed by the MINI Design Team, and the “37” logo, commemorating this milestone achievement. This emblem serves as a homage to MINI’s rich motorsport tradition.

The dynamic premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed offers a glimpse of the future of high-performance electric vehicles, showcasing MINI’s iconic design and engineering prowess. Fans and automotive enthusiasts alike can expect an unforgettable showcase of the MINI John Cooper Works E PROtotype’s capabilities as it tackles the challenging hill climb.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held over four days from 11-14 July 2024.

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