Leaping to 2019, MINI has now launched the John Cooper Works Clubman and The John Cooper Works Countryman. Both cars are revolutionary in that the power output is the most the car manufacture has released to its customers to date.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman has a 225kW 4-cylinder turbo engine with a claimed fuel consumption of 7.7l/100km. The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman on the other hand has a claimed fuel consumption rate of 7.9l/100km. The new John Cooper Works Clubman does a 0-100 sprint in 4.9sec and the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman does it in 5.1secs which is 1.4 and 1.5 seconds faster than in the respective previous models.

Both JCW cars have specially engineered chassis with additional reinforcement modifications for the body structure, engine connection, and chassis fastenings.

We had the opportunity to drive these vehicles in the curvaceous roads of Mpumalanga and I was impressed with how tightly they both held on the road. Both models use the same new 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission that has a mechanical differential lock on the front axle. Both cars all have the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. It would be hard to suggest one for you because I feel both cars are a little different and cater for different personalities. The new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is one that stood out the most for me. Its small and nimble shape definitely grabs my attention.

The drive is very different from the very first MINI I drove. You don’t get that Go-Cart experience but you still have the very same grin on your face as you swiftly navigate around the curves. MINI remains a fun car to drive whilst giving you all the sports performance you would want in this compact car, I mean that new exhaust system has turned a purr into an amazing rumble. Needless to say the MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive gives the cars increased traction on take-off, agility and driving stability. However, increased performance comes with bigger John Cooper Works sports brake system.

The noticeable new LED rear lights in Union Jack design in the new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is definitely a highlight design feature along with the keyless drive. The 6.5-inch display comes with touch function and a redesigned graphical display, also available is the upgradeable infotainment system and connected navigation with an 8.8 inch display. Also available is concierge service, real time traffic update and the system is Apple CarPlay-ready.

Prices for the new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will start from R642 000 and for the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will begin from R708 000.

Words & Photography by Tshego Mmahlatji

I had always known the MINI Clubman was made for me in mind. I mean, I fit their target market perfectly; I am young, innovative and stylish. I am highly focused on practical features when it comes to cars, I consider my social status as very high and lastly It caters for my titanic body structure. The only problem though is that I am not a fan of this small car segment.

First Impressions Count

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Gone is that awkward club door on the preceding model, and in its place are an extra pair of real, traditional doors. But even more than changes to its body, Mini has taken the original Clubman idea – to build a more versatile version – to its logical extreme, going larger. More importantly, this 2016 model represents a more premium, comfortable direction for the Mini brand. But don’t worry, loyalists, this is still very much a Mini.

Mini’s exterior stylists worked hard to emphasize the car’s extra width, too, while retaining a brand-appropriate footprint. This was done, most obviously, with the addition of the large, horizontally oriented rear taillights. A meaty set of rear hips also works the theme. Finally, designers added a chamfered edge on the outside of the rear doors.

Other design decisions are less successful. Parking lot superheroes will lament the new electric parking brake, which has been fitted to accommodate a pair of large-ish cupholders ahead of the shifter. And outside, we found ourselves questioning the positioning of the brake lights, which are actually mounted in the bumper. My co-pilot, Danine Naidoo, on the launch journey rightly remarked that the Clubman’s rear is a rather busy place, what with four lights, three badge sets, two door handles, and two wipers.

The Interior

This ride comfort pairs very nicely with the Clubman’s in-cabin experience, which is better than ever. The backseats are spacious for two adults, although cramming a third in the center may require awkward warm feeling between all parties. In back, that extra overhang is good for 0.5 cubic meters of boot space, a figure that can be expanded to 1.5 cubic meters by lowering the 60/40-split rear chairs. As you can see by the photos, there’s plenty of room for at least a couple suitcases.

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While we’re on the topic of the cabin, it’s best that we address the Clubman’s exclusive interior treatments. The keen-eyed among you will note that, unlike the last-gen model, this car gets its own unique design. This was done in a bid by Mini to further differentiate the Clubman from the outgoing two- and four-door variants. The view forward is ruled by a stylish and strong “bracket,” a band of trim that runs from the front of the dash, to the doors, and on up underneath the windshield. While it’s not a new styling feature, it works especially well on a small car, as it makes the cabin appear wider. It’s also more elegant than the large “color lines” offered on the Mini Hardtop.

The Innards

The big news on the powertrain front is the new eight-speed automatic that will be offered alongside the six-speed manual transmission in the 2.0-liter, turbocharged Cooper S Clubman. (The 1.5-liter turbo triple in the standard Cooper will continue to be mated to six-speed transmissions, be they automatic or manual.)

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 The new transmission will be offered in two specs: the standard setup we had on our launch car and a quicker-shifting, paddle-equipped sport trim. In its base setup, which we had for the drive, we found upshifts to be brisk, especially in Sport mode, but not necessarily on pace with a dual-clutch transmission. It’s keen on downshifts, whether at your request or the computers, and is quick to engage off the line. The vehicle handled very well on the winding roads on route to Franschhoek.

At Play

As with the previous Clubman, this new model rides on a longer wheelbase. The 2.7m span is arguably more maxi than mini, offering buyers anywhere from 2.9 to 6.9 inches of extra space between the axles. It also makes the Clubman the longest vehicle Mini has ever made.

Thanks to the wider track, the Clubman feels even more stable in aggressive driving, with less body roll than some of its competition. We did notice a great number of dive under hard braking (the stoppers felt disappointing and underpowered, too). Our tester wasn’t fitted with Mini’s dynamic dampers, which were part of the unselected Sport Package. Adding the trick dampers would likely sharpen up the suspension in the bends even further address front-end issues under braking.

Part of the Mini legend is its sharp, takes-no-prisoners steering. But as with the suspension, the Clubman’s tiller is relaxed compared to its smaller counterparts. Turn-in is still extremely quick relative to mainstream offerings and the power assist is strong, but it doesn’t feel overboosted or twitchy. Instead, there’s a natural feeling to this electric setup. Feedback through the wheel is on the low side for something wearing a Mini badge, but there’s plenty of road-surface information telegraphed through the heavily bolstered seats to make up the difference.

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For most customers the details of the Clubman’s handling will take a backseat (no pun intended) to ride comfort. In this regard, Mini’s largest-ever model is also one of its most comfortable, boasting a civilized character over both B-road bumps and city center imperfections. Secondary impacts are particularly well muted, with the Clubman’s suspension managing the high-frequency rough stuff without much trouble. On larger impacts, suspension noises are limited, while the actual influence on cabin comfort is best described as minor.

Prices for the Clubman start at R343 000 for the three-cylinder Cooper, while the Cooper S will set you back R415 000. That’s only half the story, though, as the Porsche-like options catalog is capable of elevating both of those figures considerably. We weren’t given an official as-tested price of the car pictured here, but ticking off the optional content makes a R380,000 estimate seem likely.

Our launch Mini Cooper Clubman at a Glance

Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder, with 172 hp.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, Steptronic.

Speed: 0 to 100km/h in 9.1 seconds.

Fuel Consumption: 5.4l per 100km

Price as tested: R361 000.

Best feature: Extra boot and rear seating space with minimum downside.

Worst feature: The standard Mini cabin is starting to look tired.

Target buyer: A style lover looking for gas mileage without sacrificing a good time.

Over the next 4 weeks of March, 15 MINI dealerships in SA are handing out real, working virtual reality headsets upon request. In fact, you just have to walk into your nearest dealership, ask one of the friendly salespersons to show the brand new Clubman and somer during the presentation request a pair of the VR goggles. Feast your eyes on the magical black box, fold it a bit, slip in the goggles and your phone to get something exactly similar to Google Cardboard. The best part is, it will only cost you nothing, and that includes a tour of the Clubman inside the dealer. It most likely won’t be as good as more expensive VR devices, but it is an affordable introduction to the world of virtual reality. I got mine already

According to a presser released by the company earlier today, they came up with the promo specifically for the new Convertible, meant to encourage drivers to experience the brand new vehicle. MINI even developed two six-minute short themed films “Real Memories” and “Backwater”, these flicks will also be available shortly for Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift virtual-reality viewers.The presser went further to conclude that MINI will only be giving away 140 000 VR Cardboard Viewers in all.