MINI unveils its first all-electric ‘performance’ EV

MINI has unveiled its first zero-emissions MINI John Cooper Works car – a sporty upgrade to the MINI Cooper – at this week’s Paris auto show.

The battery-powered three-door from the famed British brand, owned by BMW Group, boasts some sleek styling and a more robust powertrain compared to its less-sporty sibling already on the market.

While a full spec sheet has yet to be released by the company, MINI is touting this as its first all-electric performance EV, with 261 hp or 190 kW (that’s 20 more than the standard model) of power and 350 Nm of torque for 0 to 100 km/h in under 6 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph. All this is powered by a 54.2 kWh battery pack enabling 230 miles on a single charge.

The new EV also features a race-inspired suspension and an electric boost function for extra power as well as a driver-activated “go-kart mode,” a concept that MINI has been talking about for a while. What that means, as MINI describes it, is that you’ll get a “stiffer steering feel” and increased accelerator pedal sensitivity paired with “sportier sounds.” The design also makes a boxy car more aerodynamic while adding in some red, white, and black color touches for all the sporty feels.

In addition to the new electric John Cooper Works model, MINI has also unveiled the JCW Aceman, offering similar performance capabilities with a slightly slower 0 to 60 mph time of 6.4 seconds and a range of up to 220 miles. But that comes with added passenger and cargo space.

Prices are yet to be revealed, with production on both of these models moving from China to Oxford, England, in 2026. Last year, BMW announced its plans to invest about $750 million in the Oxford facility of its Mini sub-brand. After sales launch in the UK, chances are that the models will make it to the US.

Photos: BMW

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