New MINI John Cooper Works Electric arrives with Golf GTI-rivalling performance

• High-performance version of the electric MINI Cooper
• Up to 254bhp on offer
• Priced from £38,420

Ever since we first drove the electric MINI Cooper earlier this year, we’ve longed for a little more performance to exploit its nimble chassis, and now MINI has finally delivered – this is the MINI John Cooper Works Electric.

John Cooper Works MINIs have always represented the brand’s top performance models, but now is the first time the historic ‘JCW’ badge has been applied to an EV. The JCW Electric promises to deliver the same driving fun that’s defined the MINI brand in recent years, while retaining a usable range and a plush interior. It now packs the outright speed to take on the petrol-powered Volkswagen Golf GTI, and it’s priced to match, too – you’ll need at least £38,420 for a John Cooper Works Electric when order books open in the coming weeks.

What are the MINI JCW Electric’s performance figures?

Despite its cheap-to-run EV setup, the MINI John Cooper Works Electric is all about performance. Key to its speed is a beefed-up electric motor; it comes with a 227bhp single front-mounted motor – that may only be a 12bhp increase over the MINI Cooper SE, but the JCW can temporarily ramp up to 254bhp with a ‘Boost Function’.

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The power bump has made all the difference for the JCW Electric’s acceleration time. The 0-62mph sprint is now done and dusted in 5.9 seconds, making it 0.8 seconds quicker than the Cooper SE and a whole 1.4 seconds quicker than the basic Cooper E. That’s now quick enough to stand toe to toe with the latest petrol-powered Golf GTI, which posts an identical 0-62mph time. The MINI doesn’t quite have the legs at the top end – it tops out at 124mph versus the GTI’s 155mph top speed – but that will be of little importance along a twisty British B road.

That’s where you’ll be wanting to spend most of your time in the MINI JCW Electric, anyway. It gets a revised suspension setup and a set of stickier performance tyres, both of which contribute towards “agile and grounded handling” according to MINI. We were already impressed by the Cooper SE’s enthusiastic appetite for corners, so it’ll be interesting to see how MINI has pushed things forward with the JCW.

Being an EV, it's important to mention the more practical stats and figures that’ll be important for day-to-day driving. Its 54kWh battery pack enables a maximum range of 251 miles, supported by 95kW rapid charging – MINI says you should be able to top up from 10 to 80% in under 30 minutes.

For now, MINI has stuck to the traditional front wheel drive layout for its top-spec performance hatchback, but it hasn’t ruled out the possibility of squeezing a second motor onto the rear axle in the future to create an even hotter, four-wheel drive electric MINI Cooper.

What does the MINI JCW Electric look like?

To complement its punchier performance, the MINI John Cooper Works Electric gets the same exterior treatment as other MINI Coopers with the ‘Sport’ style package. That includes a pair of small aero wings either side of the front bumper, gloss black side skirts, and a bold rear wing. A smattering of red accents complete the package, along with a set of bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels.

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The black and red theme continues in the MINI John Cooper Works Electric’s cabin. The fabric dashboard features both colours in a chequered pattern, while the faux leather seats get red stitching. The 9.5-inch circular central display is carried over from other MINIs, but here it gets a few unique features, including a power meter, G-force meter and other performance driving displays.

How much does the MINI JCW Electric cost and when can I buy one?

Prices kick off at £38,420 for the MINI John Cooper Works Electric, which is only £420 more than the Cooper SE with the exterior Sport style pack. Order will open in the coming weeks, with the first UK cars not expected to arrive until April 2025.

Read about some of the MINI JCW Electric’s key rivals, the Alpine A290 and the Cupra Born VZ…