Road Test: Mini Hatchback 1.6 John Cooper Works 3dr

The Works kit is the only performance gene-splice that doesn't affect your Mini's five-year servicing deal or warranty. This is worth knowing, because it's also as far as you'll want to go before you lose sight of what a fast Mini is all about.

The new bits consist of a flap that reduces pressure losses in the air intake, bigger injectors and tweaked engine software, as a response to the upgrades to the Cooper S. That means 210bhp and 181lb ft, plus Works suspension and 18in wheels.

Small changes, but the car feels utterly manic. In the wet, even the lean amounts of extra power and torque make it spin an inside wheel all too readily, but in the dry it's one hell of a laugh. Think of all the French hatchbacks you ever loved without the Kit Kat foil build quality and tendency to bite back. The wheels are far too big, though - there's not enough squash to tell you what's going on with the grip.

You need to drive one before you commit around £4k for the kit to add to a Cooper S, but if you're still in the mood, it'll liven up a Mini to the point of a rictus grin.