With a limited number of just 2,000 units being produced, this is the sportiest and fastest production model ever built under the nameplate of this British premium brand. Only three units will be made available locally.

The limited edition MINI John Cooper Works GP's 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is capable of developing 218bhp and 260Nm from just 1,750rpm via a six-speed manual transmission. 

This gives the MINI John Cooper Works GP a 0 to 100km/h time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 242km/h. However, it also delivers outstanding efficiency with the average EU test cycle consumption of 7.1L/100 km and corresponding CO2 emissions of 165g/km.

Adjustable coilover suspension allows the ride height to be lowered by up to 20mm and it comes with front six-piston fixed-caliper disc brakes.

To ensure maximum fun, the MINI John Cooper Works GP's DSC, Dynamic Stability Control, is not combined with DTC, as would normally be the case, but with a special GP racing mode. When powering out of a corner, the standard Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) software brakes the wheel on the inside of the turn, and drives the power that would otherwise be lost at this wheel to be redirected to the outer wheel, where the contact forces are greater.

These allow the MINI John Cooper Works GP to lap the Nürburgring in 8 minutes 23 seconds, 18 seconds off its predecessor's best.

The MINI John Cooper Works GP is available in exclusive Thunder Grey metallic and comes standard with xenon headlights in black shells, DSC with special GP mode, Recaro sports seats with special GP stitching and a rear diffuser which together with the underside paneling and the roof-edge spoiler, reduces lift forces at the rear axle by 90 percent. 

The MINI John Cooper Works GP retails for $227,800 at press time.