Mini reveals John Cooper Works Concept at Detroit auto show

Today at the Detroit Auto Show Mini debuted the new 2014 John Cooper Works Concept. The JCW (as the cool people call it) is the performance version of the Mini, and the debut of the concept included a rock band and impressive amount of smoke courtesy of a fog machine. The JCW concept was decked out in traditional John Cooper Works style, and that meant an exclusive color scheme with red color accents over Bright Highways Grey paint, and 18-inch light alloy wheels.

The John Cooper Works Concept is of course based on the newly redesigned Mini, a slightly more spacious car than the outgoing model, and distinguished by a longer wheelbase and a wider track. Perhaps the most noticeable features, at least on the outside, are the large air intakes up front, black surround grille and LED headlights. The concept was fitted with a sports exhaust system that included the John Cooper Works silencer, leading to two chrome-finished tailpipes. The body itself received a few aerodynamic tweaks in addition the front apron, including a small spoiler at the top of the rear hatch, and intimidating rear diffusers.

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Because THAT'S what a Mini launch is all about, right?

Interestingly enough, Mini did not announce the specs of the engine, presumably because they're still sorting out the engine prior to the market premiere of the model (this is a concept after all, despite the fact that it looks production-ready), but they did announce that the new Cooper S will receive a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developed by BMW, with 189-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The production JCW version will undoubtedly receive even more power. Expect to see a tuned version of the same engine, but with horsepower figures slightly north of 200. A launch date has not been announced, though you should expect to see it sliding around parking lots in the summer.

Another surprise at the Mini stand was the notable absence of a four-door version of the Mini, photos of which had surfaced in recent weeks. While the company is (unfortunately) not reviving any old nameplates for the four-door version of the Mini, the four-door version will look exactly like how you would imagine it. The wheelbase will be stretched, and (generous) rear doors will be added which should make ingress and egress a bit easier than in the standard two-door model. Cargo room is expected to grow a bit in the four-door model (not to be confused with the Mini Countryman All4), and once the back seats are folded down the amount of interior space should be pretty close to that of the Mini Clubman. The Mini will finally be ready for the school run... whenever we actually see it and when it ships to stores. Right now the closest thing you can get to a non-AWD four-door Mini is the decidedly Mini-looking Fiat 500L Easy complete with a white roof, Fiat having figured out what makes Mini owners tick.

The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit auto show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. This year, we'll expect to see the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the 2015 Ford Mustang and the BMW M3 and M4. The 2014 Detroit auto show is held at Cobo Hall in Detroit, MI and is open to the public from January 18-26.

By Jay Ramey