My question is, does the JCW audience want a micro-Bimmer? Mini seems to think so. As I said at the outset, the company seems to be making a play for a broader audience by softening experiential edges, but amping up the cartoon-like proportions and doubling down on a riotous interior design. You'll make up your own mind as to the success of the triple-gawp front-end design, and the harangue of surfacing, shapes, colors, and doodads that compose the cockpit.
I already miss the old JCW. For me it was a truer execution of the Ultimate Modern Mini concept. It was fun like a rollercoaster with a broken seatbelt at a craggy old amusement park. The new one is an OSHA-approved new ride at Epcot. Less of a hot hatch, more of a performance car. Such is the way of the auto world, I suppose.
Autoblog's Look At The New MINI JCW
With the video below and dozens of photos Autoblog reviews the new MINI JCW and decides:
