MINI’s John Cooper Works, or JCW, division is tasked with one of the enjoyable missions on the planet. They take run-of-the-mill MINI automobiles and SUVs — that are already fairly pleasing proper out of the field — and switch them into extra centered variations of themselves. The following era of MINI is upon us, and which means a brand new spherical of JCW merchandise, too. However what precisely goes into turning a MINI right into a JCW? Maybe extra importantly, how does electrification issue into the enjoyable components? We sit down with Patrick Häussler, the MINI engineer liable for the J01 JCW Electrical and J05 Aceman JCW, to study extra.
Beginning From the Floor Up
“The very very first thing is all the time the springs,” Patrick begins after we ask the place the engineers start relating to JCW-ing a MINI. After the springs come the dampers, however that’s not all that will get tinkered with. New anti-roll bars, stabilizers, bump stops are added, and extra camber will get dialed in. After locking within the “{hardware},” as Patrick calls it, MINI turns its consideration to the steering. “When you have very heavy steering, a automotive would possibly really feel numb,” Patrick says. “Too gentle, and it would really feel somewhat bit nervous.” The concept is to search out the right medium. One other issue MINI appears to be like at is at-speed steering; clearly, round city, you don’t need heavy steering. However at freeway speeds, you need one thing with some heft to keep away from twitchiness. Steering is among the most crucial elements to how a automotive feels, in accordance with Patrick. We agree.
Right here’s the place the {hardware} begins to vary. The gasoline-powered F66 MINI Cooper JCW options frequency-selective dampers (FSD). These mechanical dampers modify themselves based mostly on highway inputs—softening for smaller, speedy bumps and firming up for bigger impacts. It’s not a totally adaptive digital system, however Patrick says it provides the automotive an impressively versatile journey, mixing consolation with sharp physique management. MINI engineers additionally dialed in additional camber on the entrance axle, serving to to maximise grip in corners.
The J01 MINI Cooper JCW Electrical, then again, makes use of an easier sport suspension setup with out the frequency-selective tech. Patrick tells us they tried a extra superior system early in improvement, however they weren’t proud of the way it felt on the heavier electrical platform. So as a substitute, they went with a standard mechanical sport suspension, balancing consolation and efficiency the old style manner—with cautious tuning of spring and damper charges.
Then there’s the Aceman JCW, which stunned us essentially the most. With its longer wheelbase, wider monitor, and 40mm increased middle of gravity, it’s a much bigger automotive than both Cooper. MINI initially thought they might carry over a lot of the J01’s setup to the Aceman, however Patrick says that didn’t work in any respect. That they had to return to the drafting board, retuning the springs, dampers, stabilizers, bump stops, and steering to make it really feel worthy of the JCW badge. Curiously, the steering on the Aceman was made deliberately lighter than the Cooper JCW. Why? He explains that including an excessive amount of steering weight to a much bigger, heavier automotive could make it really feel gradual and sluggish. Lightening it up helps protect the MINI’s signature agile really feel—particularly round city.
Get a Grip: Traction Issues
The electrified J01 MINI Cooper JCW brings a maybe understated problem with it: tires. “Because it’s an electrical automobile… a sports activities tire isn’t all the time the most effective relating to rolling resistance,” Patrick explains. Rolling resistance impacts EV vary. MINI wanted to suit a tire that balanced sportiness with effectivity, and Patrick thinks they “did fairly good.”
In fact, with all that electrical torque on faucet, traction administration turns into much more vital. “For this one, we actually labored on yaw momentum enhancement,” Patrick says. This technique makes use of delicate braking inputs to cut back understeer and even encourage oversteer, making the automotive extra playful and adjustable—type of like BMW M’s MDM mode. It provides you simply sufficient freedom to have enjoyable, whereas nonetheless providing a security internet for those who get in over your head.
Talking of overconfidence, Patrick recollects testing the JCW with DSC absolutely off. “I turned in, received sideways, and it was cool. However you can’t try this for a buyer,” he says. MINI tunes the DTC (Dynamic Traction Management) mode to supply a steadiness between freedom and stability—what Patrick calls a “parachute within the background” to assist save drivers when issues get sketchy.
Torque steer—one thing you usually really feel in highly effective front-wheel-drive automobiles—is one other issue MINI needed to handle. Patrick truly embraces somewhat little bit of torque steer, because it provides drivers extra suggestions when pushing the automotive to its limits. “We wish to have as a lot suggestions as doable—particularly for the Cooper—with out it pulling you someplace out of the nook,” he explains. The staff fastidiously tuned torque steer compensation so the automotive feels alive however by no means unwieldy.
Three Totally different Automobiles, Three Personalities
Whereas we loved our time with all three JCW merchandise, every had distinct character traits that made every one pleasing another way. That’s not accidentally. Extra on that within the full critiques arising. In the long run, Patrick and his staff labored exhausting to verify each JCW product nonetheless feels agile and enjoyable.
Take a look at the video for extra insights and tell us which one you’d decide. Gasoline? Electrical? Or the do-it-all Aceman? We’d love to listen to your ideas.
