Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is the Latest in Hot Hatch Royalty

This looks to be the most performance-minded Mini yet.
www.thedrive.com

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Mini is, and likely always will be, a brand built on heritage. Transcending the generations—often times with a bit of speed thrown in for good measure—is a major part of the marque’s quirky British charm. Look back to former John Cooper Works iterations that were developed for the track and brought to the road to remind us of its legacy in racing, each becoming quicker and more precise as time goes on. Now, to honor that go-fast lineage that kicked off with the brand’s first Rally Monte Carlo victory exactly 50 years ago, Mini has released the new John Cooper Works GP Concept.

This freshly-developed hatch takes up where Mini left off in 2012 with the 211-horsepower John Cooper Works GP; however, this concept looks to have scrapped any worries about practicality and dedicated itself to serious track time. Motorsport-inspired styling modernizes the new Works GP Concept and gives it a certain boy-racer gusto that even others in the category may find hard to match. 

Mini, of course, claims the John Cooper Works GP Concept’s origins are derived from its British racing history, as is proven by the Union Jack rear tail lights and unmistakable design motif. 

Hardcore track-focused makes this model nothing less than a dedicated racer—which is made obvious by the bolt-on fender flares, stripped interior, and other additional performance bits. The front fascia is composed mainly of air intakes and aero-bits that will help keep the car stable and cool, not to mention look aggressive. Bucket seats and a full cage ensure it’s up-to-snuff for track duty, as do the racy center-lock wheels and giant rear wing.

The automaker claims that the John Cooper Works GP Concept “represents the modern racing essence of a Mini” and culminates 50 years’ worth of know-how in one tight package. In a segment where hatches are hotter than ever, it looks like Mini wants to one-up its competitors in just about every box the others left unchecked.

For now, we can only guess on powertrain and chassis specifics—both of which should be released when Mini officially reveals the car at next week’s Frankfurt Auto Show. There’s no news yet if the Works GP Concept will carry on the tradition of front-wheel drive or if it will inherit the four-wheel system used by other models in the Mini lineup…but regardless of which axle or axles it drives, expect a bump in power over past generations of hot Minis, as well.