Top 3 Upgrades on the 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW You Need to Know

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Yesterday, we highlighted the top three downgrades of the new F66 MINI Cooper JCW. Today, we’re flipping the script and diving into the top three upgrades to MINI’s hot hatch. Are these improvements enough to offset the shortcomings? Let’s find out.

At first glance, the new MINI Cooper JCW may look similar to its predecessor, but it boasts several subtle yet significant upgrades. At the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where MINI raced both the outgoing F56 JCW and the new F66 JCW, the difference was striking. The 2024 F56 JCW posted a fastest lap of 10:44.118 on the full circuit (including the GP track), which was respectable. But the F66 JCW clocked an impressive 10:06.773. What was behind this difference are three important performance upgrades.

Note. Since MINI hasn’t officially launched the new JCW to the press and no press cars are available, we haven’t had the chance to get behind the wheel. As a result, we don’t yet have firsthand impressions of driving engagement, feel, or feedback. However, the stats and insider insights have helped us gather a full picture of the car.

1. Torque

If you want more performance on the street, it’s not horsepower you’d be after, it’s torque. While the 2025 JCW retains the familiar B48 engine (specifically the B48A20O2) with an unchanged 231 hp output, there’s a significant enhancement: torque. The F66 JCW delivers 280 lb-ft of torque at just 1,500 rpm—a 45 lb-ft (16%) increase over the F56 JCW and only 15 lb-ft shy of the new Countryman JCW.

If we had to identify the biggest factor in the F66 JCW’s improved track performance compared to the F56 JCW, it would be the increase in torque.

2. Wider Track and Tires

Another key improvement is the increase in width. The F56 Cooper had an overall width of 75.9 inches, while the F66 grows to 77.6 inches—a 1.3-inch difference. While this may seem minimal, BMW and MINI don’t typically increase a car’s width purely for aesthetics.

This change isn’t just about wider wheels and tires (which have grown from 205 to 215 on the Cooper S and JCW). It’s also due to mechanical adjustments that widen the track. Beyond aesthetics—such as enabling a more concave wheel design, a common critique of the previous JCW—the wider track significantly improves handling.

A wider track enhances a car’s stability, grip, and performance, especially during cornering. It reduces body roll, provides better lateral stability, and improves weight distribution. The wider tires also increase the contact patch, boosting traction and control. This setup minimizes understeer and oversteer and improves performance on uneven surfaces or during spirited driving.

3. Quicker shifting DCT

While specific data on the DCT’s performance in the F66 JCW isn’t available yet, we’ve logged extensive miles in the Countryman JCW equipped with the same unit. Compared to the Cooper S and even the previous F56 JCW, the DCT feels noticeably quicker and more refined in our experience.

Although the DCT in other MINI models may not be the fastest in the segment, the version in the JCW should address many of these concerns, offering quicker shifts that enhance both daily driving and spirited performance.

Upgrades vs the Downgrades

There’s no denying our disappointment with certain downgrades MINI has introduced to the new JCW—namely, the absence of a manual transmission and the smaller front calipers. However, these three upgrades make a strong case for the F66 JCW as a compelling improvement over its predecessor.

If you can look past the lack of a manual (admittedly a dealbreaker for many), the F66 JCW raises the bar in performance and capability. Factor in the addition of the MINI OS9 operating system—which we love—and other safety advancements, and it’s clear the new F66 JCW shouldn’t be overlooked.

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