The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

Massively wider, and with aggressive and functional carbonfibre aerodynamics on all sides, this performance concept from Mini is just about the angriest Cooper there's ever been
The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

What better way to showcase your new speed- and performance-focused concept car than to tell us absolutely nothing about the engine? Well, that’s Mini’s approach with the rather angry-looking John Cooper Works GP Concept.

It’s familiar ground for Mini in one sense, having explored two such flagships before; the 2012 John Cooper Works GP and the 2006 Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit, winner of the catchiest car name of the noughties award.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

As we’ve mentioned, there’s no data on the engine. It’s a bit annoying, really; when you see something this aggressive you naturally want to know what powers it. Unfortunately we’ll have to stick to the bodywork, and the silver lining is that there’s quite a lot to talk about.

At the front there’s a pretty massive aero array, made entirely from naked-ish carbonfibre, with air intakes and deflectors so sharp that you could use them to mow lawns. We say naked-ish because the carbon weave texture is visible, but there’s a thin high-gloss paint finish over the top.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

We know that it’s paddle-shift only, but most of the car’s features are digital, within the central touchscreen. There are a few trademark Mini toggle switches and a large (and slightly worrying) emergency cut-off button to provide some analogue relief.

The concept is much wider than the current Mini Cooper S, it gets obvious bulges to its nose and wheel arches, plus a bonnet air scoop. It sits on lightweight 19-inch wheels, comes painted in Black Jack Anthracite paint and features matt Curbside Red detailing.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

The bodywork over the rear wheels has been extended with carefully-shaped panels almost like wings that could potentially help channel air more smoothly down the tail edges of the car for a reduction in drag.

At the rear it gets no less cross about something. An oh-so-angry set of vents, deflectors and spoilers means serious business. The LED rear light clusters are the same as the ones we saw on the electric Mini concept of a week ago, with a Union Jack-inspired design for which we make no attempt to hide our love.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept Is The Angriest Way To Nip To The Shops

Inside it’s a very racy affair, with a stripped-out cabin, bucket seats, five-point harnesses, a head-up display and, of course, no rear seats. Fair enough, in an extreme performance concept where you have to climb in and out through the roll cage and close the doors with fabric straps.

As well as 3D printing for various pieces of trim inside the cabin, there’s also a 3D knitting process involved with the seat upholstery, but Mini doesn’t explain exactly how it works.

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Comments

Anonymous

Dat ass tho

09/06/2017 - 10:27 |
2 | 2
BV86_OFISHAL (AUDM Fanboy)

This would not pass the fist test. The exhausts are tiny!

09/06/2017 - 10:33 |
27 | 1
Anonymous

I want to see an entire race grid of these for a one-make series.

09/06/2017 - 10:55 |
15 | 1
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They do have the mini challenge series. The cars share some similarities with this one.

09/06/2017 - 16:53 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Is Mini Cooper tryna go to space or something?

09/06/2017 - 10:57 |
1 | 1
ramses rizal

Well with current turbocharging era probably got 2.0 i4 turbocharged. Unless they went berserk and put mid-engined 3.0 V6 Turbocharged.

09/06/2017 - 11:03 |
9 | 0

Then we would’ve seen an engine in the interior pics

09/06/2017 - 11:59 |
7 | 0

Itll most likely be a slightly more powerful version or the 2L Turbo that powers the current works car if the previous ones have been anything to go by

09/06/2017 - 12:15 |
4 | 0

Maybe its the 2L 4-banger turbo with an hybrid system? Everyone’s doing it now a days, so i wouldnt be surprised if they went with that.

09/06/2017 - 13:11 |
1 | 1
Jonathon North

I love those taillights

09/06/2017 - 11:16 |
4 | 0

I was looking for that comment

09/06/2017 - 16:07 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Anyone know what the 0059 means? Is that a production number?

09/06/2017 - 11:52 |
5 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Theyre limited run cars, usually have the number on a sticker on the roof, so itd be #059/1000 for example

09/06/2017 - 12:13 |
7 | 0
Elias Gilkey (Wagon Squad) (Manual Squad) (Classics squad)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I was under the impression that it was an allusion to the first year of Minis, 1959, but I could be wrong

09/06/2017 - 12:58 |
3 | 0
Olivier (CT's grammar commie)

I swear to God Renault designers must have been involved in its design

09/06/2017 - 12:06 |
74 | 0
Anonymous

Does it come with A MASSIVE BASS SYSTEM

09/06/2017 - 12:15 |
3 | 3
7367Network

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Do hardcore racecars have them?

09/07/2017 - 00:22 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

I love the logo which says MINI! its like a skinny person joining in a sumo match and saying IM BIGGGG!!!

09/06/2017 - 12:39 |
1 | 0