Ahead of the debut of...

Ahead of the debut of the next-generation MINI in September this year, the firm’s performance division has been given free rein to produce a stunning sign-off special edition. Called the GP – Grand Prix – the red-hot flagship has been created by John Cooper Works, the firm that already offers official tuning kits for other MINI variants.

The visual modifications might not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no doubt the GP stands out. Dramatic four-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels complement the lower side skirts, while a carbon fibre wing is sure to appeal to boy racers. But the spoiler isn’t only there for show – it works with a special undertray to help reduce aero-dynamic lift and keep the car planted on the road at high speeds.

Continuing the racy theme, the rear bench has been removed and Recaro seats added to keep weight down. However, versions destined for the UK still come with air-conditioning, so only 35kg have been stripped out.

The under-bonnet tweaks are just as mild. With the next-generation MINI set to use a new turbocharged power-plant, this is the last model to employ the 1.6-litre supercharged unit.

Developing 215bhp and 245Nm of torque, the GP has only 8bhp more than the Cooper S Works, but the key to its appeal is not raw performance, but pure excitement. With reworked suspension, the way the hatchback turns into bends is simply sensational. So well sorted is the chassis that it can be steered using the throttle almost like a rear-wheel-drive sports car. Lift off the accelerator mid-corner and the nose tucks in tight, while get back on the power and balance is returned, along with a supercharged burst of acceleration.

On the race track, the GP can carry high speeds into corners and begs to be driven harder. Grip levels are immense, so breaking traction requires extreme behaviour behind the wheel.

But when pushed to the limit, the GP is a demanding driver’s car. For example, upgraded brake discs and pads are fitted, and when used hard, will slow the car so quickly that the short-wheelbase three-door squirms around, needing corrective steering inputs from the driver. Another thing you soon become aware of behind the wheel is the sensitivity of the throttle. This is perfect for track days, but take your foot off the accelerator too quickly in traffic, and the GP is far from smooth.

One of the biggest bugbears with the standard Cooper S Works is its ride quality. Big wheels and sports suspension don’t help the special-edition’s comfort, so the GP is predictably stiff. However, it’s not as bad at absorbing bumps as you might expect, and is little worse than its standard sibling.

There seems little doubt that the GP is heading straight for the MINI hall of fame, so its чЈ22,000 price is largely irrelevant. Only 2,000 will be built, and all of the UK’s allocation of 444 has already been sold. For a true enthusiast, even such a hefty sum is a small price to pay for the mightiest MINI of them all.