Mini JCW Clubman and Cooper S Convertible

After experiencing the new Clubman, Mini’s fastest and most powerful car to date, we embarked on a subsequent road trip in the topless version of the British Bavarian

A celebration of british heritage, Mini’s new aesthetic is a triumph for the sophisticated luxury segment and for parent company, BMW.

The Bavarians can do hip and cool, too, as they have proved convincingly since 2000, when they breathed new life into the Mini brand. Research and development happen in Munich at the BMW headquarters, while Mini’s largest plant is in Oxford, England, and another in the Netherlands.

The brand chose an amazing location to showcase the most powerful Mini in its 60-year history: outside red-brick buildings in Klassikstadt, Frankfurt, a former-factory-turnedpetrolhead-heaven. Two rows of brand-new Mini JCW Clubmans with fiery red roofs were lined up, more than ready to beat the bends of minor country roads.

The second-generation Clubman, with its characteristic twin back doors, is based on the estate Minis of the 1960s. Despite being of a similar size to the Volkswagen Golf (it has reasonable space in the back seat), the Mini-typical (I wouldn’t say go-kart-like) driving feels the same. Especially now that the JCW fourcylinder has gained 55kw of power and 100Nm of additional torque. It has the same engine used in the Mini Cooper S, but with a larger turbocharger and reinforced crankshaft. Its new sporty exhaust is a wellness treatment for the ears.

The chassis was upgraded and is fantastic. Together with the allwheel-drive and a frontlimited slip differential, the grip on the narrow, winding tarmac was plentiful. Only when we were driving fast was a tiny squeal from the tires audible. Also Minitypical is the sharp steering. The Clubman feels like a potent rally car. If you want it even sportier, you can opt for the sport suspension, which drops the car by 10mm.

And it looks even better than before, thanks to a new radiator grille that stretches across the entire bumper and is available in gloss black or chrome. Adaptive LED lights feature a matrix function, and rear LED lights also come in a Union Jack design.

The red-coated front callipers wear their

JCW badge with pride, along with the new leather trim inside.

After this rather exhilarating outing, including a 250km/h section of the Autobahn, it was time to relax in another Mini: the topless version. While the Paceman, Coupé and Roadster flopped, luckily the Mini Convertible remains, and in my opinion, it’s the coolest one of them all.

In the beautiful, orange fourth-generation Cooper S we drove, there were not only Union Jacks in the LED rear lights, but there was also one printed on

‘Wednesday is the g-spot of the week, right up there in the middle. the worst is over, but you’re not out of the woods’

the soft-top. It opened in 18 seconds, in two stages. With only the front half turned back, it offers up a sunroof effect. Once it was fully opened, we got all the fresh air we needed, but almost no more rearview.

Beating the bends was even more fun topless. Steering was direct, the gear shifts were crisp, and the hold on the road was great. Unfortunately, our chosen destination lacked winding tarmac.

The Netherlands is flat, the roads straight, and Amsterdam – albeit very pretty – is one of the most car-unfriendly cities in Europe. The most precious real estate there is a free parking spot. Luckily, the Mini fits almost everywhere. Nevertheless, cyclists (who wouldn’t survive 30 minutes of traffic in Cape Town) rule.

In the end, we promised the Mini we’d never go back to Amsterdam. Next time, we’ll be driving it in the Alpine mountains in Bavaria, where its adoptive parents were born.