2019 Mini JCW Clubman & JCW Countryman revealed

Mini’s unleashed its most powerful models ever – the new 2019 Mini JCW Clubman and JCW Countryman.

The brand has overhauled its four-wheel drive John Cooper Works variants with extensive upgrades to their engines, drivetrains, suspension and chassis structures.

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Underscoring this are new 2.0-litre engines that jump outputs from 170kW/350Nm to 225kW and 450Nm, representing an increase of 55kW and 100Nm. These are achieved with a petrol particulate filter complied to Euro 6d regulations.

Put through an updated eight-speed transmission the Clubman wagon is claimed hit 100km/h from rest in 4.9 seconds with launch-control. The higher-riding Countryman does it in 5.1. That’s an improvement of over a second in both cases and breathing down a Golf R’s 4.8-second claim.

Engineers have used a reinforced engine crankshaft, bigger main bearing, unique pistons, rods, and vibration damper to realise this power increase. But that’s only what they’ve changed within the block.

They’ve dropped each engine’s compression ratio from 10.2:1 to 9.5 to fit a bigger turbo, with blow-off valve, and installed fancy direct ‘multi-hole injectors’ downstream from a new intake duct.

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The upgraded ancillaries continue with a new sports exhaust system, complete with 95mm tips on the Clubman and 85mm ones on the Countryman. Meanwhile, their cooling systems are also heavily upgraded.

Drive is still through four wheels, offered in 19-inch and 18-inch diameter, but now through a new front LSD aided by an upgraded DSC system.

Complementing this, Mini’s also re-tuned each car’s steering, spring, camber and damper settings to suit its upgraded chassis. A 10mm lower right height is used on both the standard suspension and adaptive damper equipped cars.

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Body-wise, each car has new bracing, construction and powertrain mounts, while the brakes are bigger, too, with discs measuring 360mm at the front and 330mm in the rear in between four-piston calipers all around.

Much of the exterior’s carried over save for some tweaking of the rear bumper and new-for-2019 Union Jack taillights.

We’ve contacted BMW Australia on when the ultra-buff new JCW Countryman and Clubman should arrive and will update you on further details in due course.