2012 Mini Cooper Coupe John Cooper Works (photos)
The JCW Coupe may be one of the best-handling FWD cars we've tested. It's also one of the most odd-looking.
With the exception of the extra-large Mini Cooper Countryman, the Mini Cooper Coupe is probably the Mini model most likely to draw stares and comments.
The front end is classic Mini styling. Not much has changed since the new Cooper debuted at the turn of the century.
Bi-xenon headlamps are a $500 option that greatly improves your night vision.
Under the hood breathes a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that makes use of direct-injection technology.
In John Cooper Works trim, the Coupe is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.
The Coupe may be lower in height than the Cooper hatchback, but it's also about 2 inches longer overall.
The coupe's profile hides the fact that it is, in fact, a hatchback.
Larger 17-inch wheels and four-piston, JCW-branded Brembo brakes are part of the John Cooper Works trim.
Viewed from the rear, the Cooper Coupe crouches in what Mini calls a "bulldog stance."
A louder, more free-flowing exhaust helps the Mini Cooper Coupe JCW to reach 208 horsepower and make quite a noise in the process.
Mini's trademark contrasting roof is present and accounted for, but those racing stripes will cost you extra.
An integrated roof spoiler guides air down the Coupe's rear glass and onto the rear deck.
That rear deck hides a second motorized spoiler.
At 50 mph (or the flip of a switch) the spoiler rises, generating up to 88 pounds of downforce.
The Coupe lacks a back seat, but gains quite a bit of storage space behind its rear bulkhead.
Inside, the Mini Coupe uses the standard, goofy Mini design.
Our model is equipped with chrome interior trim and leather seats, both of which will cost you extra.
The chunky steering wheel feels great in the hand and communicates every detail of the road through your fingertips.
Audio and voice controls can be found on the wheel's left spoke.
Cruise controls are on the right, but if you're interested in a JCW, you probably don't care about that.
At the top of the telescoping steering column is a large tachometer with an integrated digital speedometer. This is where you'll get all of your speed data, because the larger central speedometer is... well... useless.
When equipped with the optional navigation, the Mini's dinner-plate speedometer is filled with a 6.5-inch display.
Despite appearances, this interface is not touch-sensitive. Rather, it's controlled with a small iDrive-esque controller on the center tunnel.
Mini's navigation system features traffic data and maps that are basic, but still attractive.
Hands-free calling features voice command for dialing after an address book sync.
Bluetooth audio streaming is included in this generation of Mini, which is a welcome addition.
A standard six-speaker audio system supplies sounds for any Mini Cooper Coupe model.
Stepping up to a premium Harman Kardon audio system greatly improves audio quality, but even then it's barely a match for the JCW Coupe's loud cabin at highway speed.
Drivers are able to monitor many of the Coupe's systems from the vehicle info page of the dashboard display.
Mini Connect is an optional telematics system that uses a paired iPhone to bring Facebook, Twitter, and Pandora into the dashboard.
Fuel economy for the JCW Coupe is pretty good, particularly considering the lead-footed manner in which we drove it.
The rotary controller was a turnoff at first, but I liked that it made it easy to input data without staring at the screen.
At this point, we're used to finding the climate controls and window toggles on Mini vehicles. New users should expect to be confused for a bit.
Everywhere we went in the Cooper Coupe, we attracted stares and comments from onlookers.
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