Meet the Updated JCW Family

Sections: JCW Sep 20th, 2012 17 Comments

2012 is a big year for JCW. First we learned about the JCW Countryman. Then it was the updated 1.6L JCW four cylinder with full Valvetronic with better efficiency while retaining the same performance. Then finally we got the 218 hp GP. It all adds up to a pretty nice family photo. Or a series of them (after the break).

View the Full Gallery >>

Written By: Gabe

Ike

On the front page / blog page – can you be sure to make the picture link to the ARTICLE.. not just the JPG… the majority of clicks on that image want to go into the article, not just see the image slightly larger.
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  Just about every blog I frequent uses the same format- you click an image to make it larger (that is common WP scripts). There is a “more” link like most sites to read more. If you don’t believe me look at the largest car blog in the world- autoblog.com
  
  From a usability standpoint with a continuous two column blog that may or may not make sense. I am sure Gabe can elaborate.
  - Ike
    
    Jalopnik.com (The entire Gawker.com site list) Edmunds.com
    
    Huffingtonpost.com
    
    The most popular blogs in the world all work the way I mentioned.
    
    The most compelling reason I can give is that the ‘enlarged’ images are marginally bigger than the images already posted… It’s clear that readers want to read the article – what value is there in getting bumped to a page where there nothing but a marginally larger version of the same image….
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      Both interaction types are common. Both are valid. My own blog uses the primary image to link to the story. This site currently doesn’t, and we don’t have plans to change it. Thanks for your idea.
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      This may be changing in 2013.
    - Ike
      
      Yaaaay Gabriel!
      
      PS Nathaniel – in response to both being common or valid – I can’t think of any other (major) blogs that do the image links the way they are done here. I still don’t see the value in the image click… Is it just because it’s easier to code the page that way than create the link the image than the article?
      
      PS I went to Autoblog – the image clicks take you elsewhere – either to the article they are citing, or to follow-up media.
      
      PS – do we have a price on the GP yet?
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      You and me are a very small sample size. We’ll be here all day if we make this about self-referenced usability. We all have our preferences (and I actually share yours in this respect), but there are a lot of factors that play into making that type of interaction change. What Gabe is referring to is a future version of the site’s theme that handles a post’s “featured image” differently than it does now. I appreciate your input, and we’ll take it and all the other feedback we get into account as the site evolves in the future. For now, there’s not simple a switch we can flip to make this happen, and we have other priorities we have to stay focused on. Cheers!
      
      …and we’ll share the GP price as soon as we have it!
    - BimmerFile_Michael
      
      It seems that the clicked image does not make a “window” as it once did to bring forth a gallery here- at autoblog that is what it does but adds a page for a new “hit”.
      
      There are changes coming, here and at BF, we appreciate the feedback and what is coming will be something unique (at least we think so!).
      
      As for gawker- hate the new layout and the new comment system. Ray should have just stayed as the editor at Jalop!
    - Ike
      
      Hate the comment layout as well.
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  You can also click the article title to go to the article itself.
Joao S

Happy family
that.guy

Can the GP be ordered with body-colored roof and mirrors and sans the adolescent-fantasy sticker treatment? Because I think we can all agree that would be a massive improvement.
- walk0080
  
  don’t think so. You would have to have the stickers removed (IMO they are ugly). I would also replace the brake ducts with black. I like the red mirrors though (i have the JCW red roof/mirror combo so obviously i like it).
piper

Aesthetics aside, the GP could well have been taken to the next performance level with AWD and 250 at-the-wheels horsepower. I can already hear the “cost prohibitive” argument. The fact is, MINI needs to stay well ahead of (or at least keep up with) the pack. The only way to effectively do it would be to invest in producing a vehicle capable of wowing the socks off everyone … including its rivals.
piper

I’m still cheering for the premiere of a micro-MINI Rocketman that could be offered in two versions: Hyper-economy diesel and hyper-performance GPL — for light. In the latter case, less horsepower could deliver spectacular performance given its reduced weight.
James

Is that white or silver on that JCW Hardtop?
- hemisedan
  
  It’s either silver or the Mini White Silver. Looks good on Chili Red with stripes.

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