Autocar Drives the JCW GP

Sections: In the Press | JCW GP Mar 14th, 2013 16 Comments

Matt Prior and the team over at Autocar have whipped up a doozy of a JCW GP Review. Covering design, interior, performance, ride, costs and other criteria, it’s eight web pages full of GP scrutiny. The context: how would the new GP stack up against the old one?

On paper, it smacked a little of run-out frivolity – especially given the dramatic price rise that accompanied the car’s plunging ride height – but this was no range death rattle.

The first GP was launched in 2006 and sold out before UK deliveries even started. Thanks to a proper mechanical diff deployed (at last) to better harness an uprated 212bhp of supercharged shunt, the stripped-out GP turned out to be arguably the best Mini yet produced on BMW’s watch. Just 459 examples came to the UK, and those that remain roadworthy after seven years have settled into the rock-solid values indicative of cult status.

You’ll have to head on over to Autocar.uk to read their full review. We recommend it.

Written By: Nathaniel Salzman

Gary

The “verdict” pretty much matches what Todd P. has been saying all along…
Captain

MINI may never have been successful without BMW, but there is a price for forfieting that autonomy and I believe the GP highlights the best and worst of BMW’s involvement. The verdict sums it up nicely and reflects my own sentiments: “Nevertheless, there’s a nagging suspicion that BMW has honed this Mini right up to the point where a tape measure can be held to it and then declared the project a success.” Yup, nary an inch more will be giveth. God forbid a MINI encroach on its BMW brethern with an over the top success in performance/build quality. The brand apologists will tell you that this is not the market MINI wants to corner, yet marketing will pump out paragraph upon paragraph extolling the virtures of being a leader in the premium small car segment – unique, sporty, spirited and of course cheeky. The sweet spot for ROI as a car enthusiast is the S trim; no pretentious standing or mock upper-end performance (JCW $8k premium is more about show than go…). I want to love the JCW/GP, but sadly the tape measure BMW uses will always be shorter than my own and at an unjustifiable premium. I also believe the original GP remains the gold standard and MINI has lost it’s way with this submission.
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  You say that as though BMW were somehow less involved in the first GP, and that just isn’t true.
  - Captain
    
    I think Gabe pegged it – whether it was due to the time, $$ or freedom; they had less fingerprints on the R53 GP. That said, I think which is more enjoyable may be debatable.
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      There was less overall development, yes, but it’s not as though MINI were somehow more autonomous at that point.
    - Captain
      
      They certainly were not embarking on sharing platforms and components back when the R53 GP was hatched. They were also not manufacturing MINIs in Austria. Perception is as close to reality as soon as the first center speedo is dropped and rectangular air vents are added. For good, bad, better or worse – BMW and MINI are more integrated than ever. In the case of the GP; I think it achieved remarkable gains from engineering perspective as a result of BMW’s resources.
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      There was certainly a lot of development that went into the new GP, but all the things you’re describing (Austria, platform sharing, etc.) don’t apply to the GP. They apply to the Countryman, or the F56, which hasn’t even come to being yet. And let’s not forget that there was an engine sharing program between BMW and Daimler for the R53. Sure, the cars have evolved and will continue to, but I also think that a lot of MINI fans have this idealized, romantic notion about the R53 that over-colors their perception of the current cars. I say that as someone who still owns his R53. Things change, and they’re going to keep changing. It wasn’t an option for MINI to stay the same due to reasons that have been rehashed a thousand times. While I agree with you that there are changes in the present cars and changes in the coming cars in which certain details are more conventional, and that this dilutes some of that MINI character we love so much in the first generation cars, there’s no good argument to be made that the MINI isn’t overall a much better car — especially after the 2011 refresh. The F56 will likely be even better. People like to skapegoat BMW, but without BMW, we wouldn’t have had the R50/53 either. Also, no one wants MINIs to be confused for BMWs less than BMW does. When the platform sharing was introduced, it was the BMW side of things — the BMW engineers and designers — who were the most concerned about having too much MINI DNA in BMW cars. MINI was concerned too — about looking like a re-badged BMW — but that concern ran much hotter the other way. So for all the people who talk about BMW’s diabolical intentions at wanting to make MINIs just like BMWs, it couldn’t be further from reality.
    - Captain
      
      I will concede that point, I can definitely see the concern running much hotter the other way among the BMW purists, they are a very loyal lot as well and have their own set of nightmares spawned in Munich…. sharing a platform w/MINI, FWD, automatics, etc. The grass is always greener I suppose. I admittedly like the 2011 refresh, trading my 2008 to pick up a 2013 and look forward to the F56, but will wait for mid-cycle updates before making the leap.
- Dylan
  
  I think that’s a well reasoned and defensible position to take. BMW does take a very measured approach to design/build and where a new car fits into the range. That somehow feels different in the original GP where I expect they had more freedom and perhaps more of a blank canvas.
  - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
    
    The irony is that they had much less freedom, time and development money with the first GP. The second is better engineered, designed (not those stickers or wheels mind you) and is thoroughly a better car. And having driven both I can say it’s also more enjoyable.
    
    What people miss in the first GP isn’t the LSD (although I agree it’s an unfortunate omission in GP2). What they miss is the raw nature of R53 amplified to an even more visceral state. MINI couldn’t do that with the current engine. Yet every other aspect is more. Engine, brakes, aero and suspension are miles ahead of the first car. Did it lose something? Of course. Every generation of performance car loses a touch of character as emission and safety rules tighten the noose.
    - Captain
      
      I know it is not apples to apples, but will MINI ever produce a M1 type throwback that does capture a more visceral state harkening back to the spirit of the R53? The M1 has an unbridled character despite emission and safety rules, no?
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      Having driven it in anger, I would argue that the GP absolutely captures the spirit of the R53. It’s so much more visceral and raw than the regular JCW.
- Ike
  
  I would have rather had super light back-seats than heavy wheels, if such was possible, and def steering wheel controls. Stoked anyway.
RB

Too much money for this mighty MINI. It doesn’t look special, the colour is muddy grey, the graphics, high school grade, no special numbering or even, it seems, GP special aerodynamic parts and so on… performance aside… it’s boring to look at and costs way too much.

I have a friend who owned 3 R53 GPs and 2 classics. He cancelled his order for this GP and has sold nearly all his MINIs… is there a trend here?
- http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
  
  Well the trend is certainly upward. The GP is all but sold out in every market it’s been released in.
RB

BTW… Good review by AutoCar, I thought.

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