The new 2013 JCW GP has been unveiled at MINI United and it’s been disclosed that it laps the Nurburgring in a time of just 8:23. That’s a full 18 seconds faster than the previous GP and puts it in a rare company of front wheel drive cars on the ‘Ring. Unlike the previous GP, MINI took their time to bring this car to market. Developed over the course of two years, testers used both the ‘Ring and public roads to create the best possible combination of extreme performance and livability. The entirely new JCW suspension improves on the after-sales kit by lowering the car further and giving it better body control on the track. Like-wise we’re told six piston front brakes are a decided improvement over the already good four-pots on the standard JCW.

However the most impressive thing about the GP (aside from the engine which MINI aren’t willing to talk about yet) is the aero work that has gone into the car. MINI has closed off the underside of the car (using bespoke parts and one or two from the Cooper SD) to create better air flow and less lift. This coupled with the rather dramatic rear diffuser allows the car to stay far better planted at speed than any MINI other than MINI Challenge race-car. They also tweaked the front aero (just in front of the tires) to allow for better air-flow and less drag and lift. It may not look it, but we’re told that these changes in total create a substantially improved car over the standard JCW. MINI also partnered with Khumo to develop a specific 18″ tire for this GP that offers better grip and ride qualities than any previous tire that size has offered. MINI isn’t talking about the interior (other than it’ll have only two Recaros inside) or the drivetrain. But from our sources we’re expecting something edging close to 220 hp and the most torque ever from a MINI.

Motoring File have more on this breaking story here.
The official photos can be viewed here.

It may look a little frayed around the edges, but this battered and rusty little car is expected to fetch upwards of £15,000 at auction. Left neglected in a Chichester barn since 1986, XLL 27 is believed to be the older surviving unrestored MINI in the world. There is speculation this Austin Se7en De Luxe Saloon may have been among the first ten to roll off the Longbridge production line back in 1959.  Although it has only 30,000 miles on the clock, the car is not roadworthy at the present time. It will go under the hammer at Bonhams on April 30th and will hopefully go to a dedicated MINI enthusiast who can restore the car to it’s former condition.

Mail Online has the full story and a gallery of photos here.

MotoringFile have much more on this story here.

We’ve taken a good look at the future of MINI in many recent articles.  However, it’s important we don’t forget about the fifty-three years of MINI history we’ve already enjoyed.  Sit back and enjoy this report from a 1994 episode of Top Gear.  Jeremy Clarkson decides to review the new Fiat Cinquecento Sporting against the 1990-era MINI Cooper.  Can you guess what happened when they went head-to-head?

Check out the video on YouTube here.

Twenty seconds is a huge amount of time in any form of motorsports, and that’s doubly true for ‘Ring times.  The original Cooper S JCW GP boasted just 215 horsepower but shed an impressive amount of weight to stay quick.  The new model is expected to bring around 220 hp to the party along with significant weight reductions of its own.  Still, a mere 5-hp nudge hardly explains a 20-second improvement around the Nürburgring!

AutoBlog has more on this story here.

MotoringFile have the original story here.

With 127,634 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles delivered worldwide, the BMW Group achieved its best-ever February sales result. A total of 239,800 vehicles have been delivered to customers since the start of the year; an increase of 10.5% compared with the same period last year.

The MINI brand reported another excellent month, with 20,020 MINI cars delivered worldwide, an increase of 24.8% over February 2011 (prev. yr. 16,045). 35,788 MINI cars have been sold year-to-date, an increase of 18.6% compared with the first two months of 2011 (prev. yr. 30,170). The MINI Countryman contributed to over one third of MINI’s sales in the first two months with retail climbing to 12,388 cars, an increase of 61.2% compared to the same period last year (prev. yr. 7,687). Ian Robertson said, “The success of the MINI Countryman is testimony to MINI’s ability to venture into new segments.”

MotoringFile have all the numbers and more coverage here.