MINI John Cooper Works

The other day, a friend of mineI bought a BMW MINI JCW (John Cooper Works).So, I was given a test ride.

This time, I wanted to review the restaurant with as few preconceptions as possible, so I did not do any preliminary research before the day of the event.

The JCW, seen for the first time, has a completely different atmosphere from a regular Mini. The first thing that catches the eye is the large cooling grille and radiator. The rear of the car is equipped with a center two-piece muffler.

The 18-inch wheels look very impressive and large, perhaps due to the small size of the car, and they are equipped with large-diameter brakes with red calipers. The calipers are appropriately sized for the wheels, and it is obvious that the large-diameter wheels and brake calipers are not just for show.

Once inside the car, there are magnificent sports seats, which distinguish it from the normal model MINI.The seat hold is quite strong, and the seat surface is thick and very comfortable. Personally, I really like BMW-type seats.

Impressions from the start of the run

When I started the engine, I thought it would be more ferocious, but not so much. The engine wakes up with a slightly louder starting sound.

The parking brake is electric, as this is the latest generation of MINI.When I put the selector lever in D mode and started driving, I was surprised to find that the ride was surprisingly comfortable. Of course, this is partly due to the good road conditions, but it is also due to the fact that my sister's carMINI Cooper DIt is comparable to the

I expected a more stiff suspension from the JCW grade, but it is not as stiff as I expected. Of course, it is firm, but there is no thrust, and the body rarely shakes at low speeds, as in the GT3.

In my Porsche, it seems to ride better than my 991.1 GTS.This would be a good choice for a date car in town, and there would be little to complain about.

The engine feel at low rpm is also very manageable. According to some sources, the four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 231ps and 320Nm of torque. Although it is probably possible to increase the power even more, this slightly modest tuning was probably done with ease of use in the everyday range in mind.

There is very little turbo lag and no jerkiness when re-accelerating from deceleration.The transmission is BMW's signature torque converter type sport AT, which does a very good job. Torque transmission is smooth, without any slippage. There is no shifting shock, and the transmission is smooth.

Impression of Sport mode

Now, here comes the main battleground for John Cooper Works.When the engine is put into Sport mode at a standstill, the feeling of the engine suddenly changes.The magnitude of this change is quite significant: the sound is louder, but more importantly, the engine vibration transmitted to the steering wheel is different.

In normal mode, no engine vibration is transmitted at all, but in sport mode, vibration is clearly transmitted to the steering wheel.

This vibration is not at all unpleasant, unlike the kind of vibration of diesel engines or the old four-cylinder engines without balancers. I believe this is an intentional sporty effect. So this alone is enough to lift one's spirits.

When the accelerator pedal is pressed deeply, the MINI JCW accelerates briskly, and since it is a FWD vehicle, one can't help but feel that the torque is being constricted a bit by electronic control in order to ensure that it is transmitted to the road surface. The acceleration and sense of power is in line with the 231ps.

Not violent acceleration, but fast enough and almost never stressful in daily sports driving.Id.

The engine sound is also very pleasant as the rpm increases. The sound volume and quality are enjoyable enough, even though many cars are only quiet due to noise regulations.

And most pleasant of all is the sound when shifting up.

With paddle switches, every time you shift up a gear, the "Bon!The sound of shifting gear can be heard loudly. This sound, which can also be heard in Porsche's PDK, makes me feel very racy and is a moment that makes me smile unintentionally.

Incidentally, the speed of shifting gears is fast enough.In particular, upshifts are fast, comparable to dual-clutch transmissions such as PDK. On the other hand, the downshift response seems a bit laggy.

This may just be because I am used to PDK, but it seems to me that a more rapid sequence of engine rev matching and downshifting would be better balanced with the response when shifting up.

What about handling and braking?

And the handling I'm curious about, in a nutshell: 'turn well'. Compared to a normal Cooper D, the car has a strong sense of trying to move in. However, I also had the impression that the steering angle was difficult to set at once, whether due to the influence of torque steer or electronic control.

Cooper D has almost neutral steer, while JCW has a slightly oversteer taste.I feel it in the

The driver's motor skills are evident, but there are times when the driver's senses are a little off, and a slight corrective snake is needed.It's a bit of a misnomer, but handling in the direction of Italian cars, especially Ferraris.It is.

The car tends to be more agile than the driver's controls, so it is difficult to hold the steering wheel in one hand and drive through corners humming a tune.

The driving feeling is like putting both hands firmly on the steering wheel and holding the reins of a car that is trying to run mischievously and controlling it.It would be nice if they could think of it as a good idea.

At least the seasoning of the car is in that direction.

This is true even when speeding in a straight line.Ashiu TunnelThe tunnel in the "Mere Old Man" is ideal for testing because of the undulation of the road surface, but it feels more like driving while slightly compensating for the road conditions that disrupt the course of the vehicle, rather than driving with a dogged determination.

In addition, there is a moderate sense of roll in curves. Since the legs are not stiff, the car does not turn without roll as one might imagine from the term "go-kart feeling.

The "go-kart feeling" of this MINI is just an expression of its athleticism.The first is.

Also, I personally give the brakes a very high score. The braking power is perfect, the feeling of the pedal, the naturalness of the control with the force of the pedal, etc.One of the few brakes that make it fun to step on the brake and adjust speedIt is.

I thought this was similar to the Porsche brakes.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

After driving this JCW grade, I thought that this grade could be considered a model with enhanced athleticism while also ensuring sufficient comfort for everyday driving.It seemed to be similar to the "GTS" in Porsche.

At first, I was prepared for it to feel more like a tuning machine, but it wasn't.If you don't like too hard, don't worry.

On the other hand, if you value GT car-like elements, such as straight-line stability and natural handling, the regular grade is probably the best choice. If you think this car is right for youThe main focus is to enjoy driving on mountain passes and winding roads, but also to use the car as a daily driver.I think it is.

If you are considering circuit driving, we recommend a more enhanced model, such as the limited edition "John Cooper Works GP" if possible.

It is not a genuine sports car, but rather "the best sporty car". I personally felt that such an expression was appropriate for the Mini JCW.