A John Cooper Works version of the MINI Countryman is scheduled to greet the public for the first time at the next Geneva Motor Show. When it hits showrooms, every single car in the brand’s lineup will benefit from a range-topping, performance-oriented model.
MINI boss Kay Segler wants to do more than just offer a John Cooper Works performance package. He recently told Car & Driver that he was considering promoting John Cooper Works to a stand-alone sub-brand. It would be similar in concept to what BMW has done with its M division, and Mercedes-Benz with AMG.
Before running MINI, Segler was the head of the M division, so he has the necessary experience to take on such a project. A decision on the matter has not been taken yet, and Segler is currently evaluating all of the options present on the table.
If John Cooper Works does become a sub-brand, the newfound independence would allow it to develop more extreme, brand-specific vehicles such as the two-seater MINI GP that was revealed in Geneva several years ago.
Oil-burning MINIs on U.S. soil?
Segler went on to reveal that the strong demand for diesel-powered MINIs in the United States is prompting the company to seriously consider bringing them over.
“We are looking into this not for the short term, but for the medium term,” said Segler.
MINI’s European diesel offering ranges from a 90 horsepower engine found in the base-model MINI One D, to a 143 horsepower unit found under the hood of the Cooper SD models.
