The Countryman is so fat its belt size is equator*. And its blood type is Yazoo**. But that hasn’t put off John Cooper Works, which will debut this sportier four-wheel drive version at the Geneva motor show in March.
It gets Mini’s all-new ALL4 AWD system as standard and a newly developed 1.6-litre direct injection four-pot with a twin-scroll turbocharger. Which means power’s up to 215bhp and 207lb ft – that’s 31bhp and 30lb ft up from an ordinary Cooper S.
The JCW also comes with an aero kit, lowered sports suspension, 18-inch rims and – if you really really must – a six-speed automatic gearbox. Which makes it the first JCW to be offered with a slush ‘box.
There’s no news on whether it’s been on a diet, though.
This portly sportster brings the total number of Mini variants up to 41. But is it one too many, TopGear.commers?
*This isn’t true.
**Nor is this.
