Monster mini's powertrain

MINI'S fastest production car has been unveiled but Australians will have to fight over only 20 of them.

Mini John Cooper works GP cars guide

MINI'S fastest production car has been unveiled but Australians will have to fight over only 20 of them.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP was unveiled last weekend at the Mini United festival in France. The JCW GP goes on sale later this year in a limited run of 2000 cars.

Mini says the JCW GP has logged 8 minute 23 seconds for a lap of the Nurburgring, beating its previous time-topper, the Cooper S with JCW GP kit - by all of 19 seconds.

So what made the difference between the little rocket?

For a start, Mini says the GP has an "exclusive powertrain", though it hasn't revealed any performance figures. However, it promises more power than the previous record holder's 156kW (from a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine).

The GP's reportedly high-revving twin-scroll turbo will also deliver "outstanding torque", probably via overboost as is the case with current top Minis.

Mini also says the car will have a specially developed adjustable race suspension system, aerodynamic aid from large nose and tail aprons, side skirts, unique roof spoiler and rear diffuser and, of course, race-spec brakes and custom track tyres.

If you're one of the lucky 2000 to nab one, forget about taking a bunch of mates for a spin - the rear seat has been ditched to save weight. BMW Australia has already put its hand up to get 20 examples - double what it normally would have asked for, given the small production run.

"We're not an especially big market and would normally expect to get about 10, but with the performance-loving focus of Australia we've asked for 20," says spokesman Scott Croaker. "We're waiting for confirmation. If we do get them, it's a car we won't see until the start of next year, but we've been getting quite a bit of interest already.

It's difficult to answer on price until we work out the specification. There are the GP features, but we need to determine the specification of other standard features.

"We will fight for our request of 20 cars - but I'm sure other markets are going to be doing the same."