The new MINI Clubman gets the JCW treatment

As the latest member of the John Cooper Works family, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman features all the upgrades already seen on the John Cooper Works Hatch and Convertible models. These include the 231bhp engine with modified MINI TwinPower turbocharger, sports suspension and powerful braking system. A 0-100km/h time of just 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 238km/h is the result, but not at the expense of economy or emissions; with up to 41.5mpg on the combined cycle and CO₂ emissions as low as 154g/km.

The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is instantly recognisable thanks to its more aggressive front and rear bumpers, and its rear wing. These not only help reduce lift, but in the case of the front section, assist with the additional cooling requirements of the more powerful engine. Unique alloy wheels and John Cooper Works badging also denote the top-of-the-range Clubman, as does the option of the special colour 'Rebel Green'.

Inside, the John Cooper Works specification includes sports seats, an Alcantara headliner, and a wide array of standard equipment including MINI Navigation, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and cruise control with brake function. MINI logo projection is also included within the standard package. Beyond that, MINI offers a huge range of personalisation options and further equipment, allowing owners to create their own unique MINI John Cooper Works Clubman.

To effectively realise the increased output of 231bhp between 5,000rpm-6,000rpm (up 39bhp on the standard Cooper S engine), the John Cooper Works Clubman uses a modified turbocharger made from a particularly heat resistant material. A correspondingly larger intercooler is also fitted, which contributes to an increase in torque to 350Nm which develops over a particularly wide band from 1,450rpm-4,800rpm. Increasing the boost pressure is teamed with a lower compression ratio thanks to the use of model-specific pistons.

Finally, a sports exhaust helps to reduce the engine's backpressure and also gives the John Cooper Works Clubman a sporty sound familiar from other models in the John Cooper Works range.

With the new John Cooper Works Clubman, MINI is for the first time combining its most potent engine offering with its ALL4 all-wheel drive system. The result is the most efficient possible deployment of the available power, providing very strong acceleration in all conditions.

The considerable power and torque of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is fed through either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed sports Steptronic transmission. The manual gearbox offers ideally spaced ratios, a model-specific gear lever and short shift mechanism for rapid gearchanges, and also features an engine speed adaption facility via a gear sensor for the smoothest possible downshifts. Carbon friction linings for the synchronising rings add to the inherent efficiency of this lightweight, easy-to-use gearbox.

The eight-speed Steptronic gearbox allows for especially fuel-efficient driving thanks to the wide spread - but closely stacked - gear ratios and quick shifting times. Further efficiency improvements can be realised if the vehicle is fitted with MINI Navigation XL, as the Steptronic gearbox takes into account upcoming bends and junctions, thereby avoiding unnecessary gearchanges. Gears can be changed either automatically, or manually via the shift selector or with paddles on the steering wheel. A launch control function enables the quickest possible acceleration away from rest, every time.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is on sale across the U.K. now. However, it is still unknown when it will arrive in Singapore.