The original Mini was a product of an era of fuel shortages - it was conceived as a compact car that punches above its segment in terms of practicality, fuel economy and ease of use.

Performance wasn't on the table until the arrival of Mr John Cooper, the owner of Cooper Car Company that designed and built Formula One cars. In case you are wondering, he is the 'Cooper' in Mini Cooper, as well as John Cooper Works.

Currently the in-house tuning division for MINI, John Cooper Works (JCW) is synonymous with performance MINIs. It is also the namesake of a range of these special, performance-oriented MINIs, such as the new John Cooper Works Electric.

While the MINI Cooper E and SE are rather cutesy, the JCW treatment trades the cuteness for a strong dose of aggression

John Cooper-fied

As expected, the JCW treatment trades some of the standard Cooper E's cuteness in exchange for a dose of menacing aura.

There's no shortage of signs to make you aware of the fact that you are looking at a John Cooper Works model

Apart from the JCW badges with its iconic checkered flag motif and all the red accents, the car's exterior has also been enhanced with JCW-specific body parts and wheels.

The JCW-specific aero package includes aggressively-styled front bumper, side skirts, a rear bumper featuring a large diffuser, and lastly, a rear spoiler bearing the JCW badges on its side.

This car marks the start of a new era of electric JCWs

No longer as rowdy, but still plenty aggressive

JCW has been known for turning up the heat on the hot MINI Cooper S hatches - they are typically stiffer, more powerful and much rowdier with a louder exhaust that'll even pop and crackle when the cars were driven hard.

Nope, there's no rowdy exhaust noises from this JCW

This new era of JCW marks the first time that the range is offered with an electric drivetrain, which also means there won't be an exhaust note at all.

Without an internal combustion engine, gone is the rowdy and throaty soundtrack that the performance MINIs used to make. In its place is a silent drivetrain with artificial sounds within the cabin to simulate those noises to provide aural feedback to the driver.

With a stout output of 190kW and 350Nm of torque, this compact hatch darts off the line and get up to speed really quickly

While the experience is vastly different from before, the JCW still retains its aggressive nature with powerful output of 190kW (255bhp) and 350Nm of torque - this is a 40bhp and 20Nm bump from the Cooper SE’s output. The increased power results in a century sprint of 5.9 seconds, with a WLTP range of 371km, which is 31km less than the Cooper SE.

Enter the electric go-kart era

Electric go-kart galore

While the shorter range seems like a disadvantage, it is actually a thoughtful decision in my opinion. I'm certain that a larger capacity battery could be engineered into the JCW Cooper to result in an increase in range to match the power bump, but that would have negatively affected the dynamics of the car.

The JCW Cooper Electric is extremely agile and responsive to steering inputs, making it a perfect tool for tight courses

Performance MINIs are widely known for their agility and go-kart-esque handling performance, and adding more weight by upsizing the battery would surely work against that ethos.

Upgraded JCW-specific brakes keep stopping distances at bay

As a result, the JCW-specific suspension settings, performance tyres and the upgraded braking system have all worked exceptionally well to result in a car that is truly agile and exciting to drive - especially on the technical Pathumthani Speedway that we got to drive the car hard.

Despite being an EV that weighs close to two tonnes (1,725kg to be exact), the JCW Cooper Electric handled with surprisingly nimbleness. Turn-in ability is vastly exaggerated - to the extent that it almost feels a little too excitable. Meanwhile, the stiff suspension adds to the car's eager character, making it a fun experience on tight and technical courses.

Inside, you'll find many more JCW-specific components, including a dashboard with the iconic JCW checkered flag pattern

Distinctly John Cooper Works

The interior of the JCW Cooper is similarly distinct - the interior is largely red and black, with JCW-specific steering wheel, sport seats and a dashboard with the checkered flag pattern.

JCW-specific sport seats hold you in place as you toss this fun electric go-kart around the track

MINI has definitely made a conscious decision to set the JCW apart from its regular counterparts. Perhaps without the gnarly exhaust soundtrack, the brand too found the need to include more differentiating factors for the JCW to stand out from the pack.

The effort to retain the JCW's fun-loving character despite the shift to a more environmentally-friendly, but arguably less exciting drivetrain, is commendable. And I would say that MINI has done a pretty good job in retaining the JCW’s characteristic performance.

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