MINI JCW 1TO6 Edition Promises Performance, Not Time-Telling

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Despite bearing a name sounding suspiciously like the precise time dinner is served in a strict household (or the latest Oakland A’s score, let’s be honest), this newest Mini is a $45k invitation to go-kart fun.


Most of what makes the 1TO6 unique is appearance-based but there’s no discounting the thing’s manual transmission and quick-revving engine. As a refresher, there’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine under the hood, making 231 horses and a roughly like amount of torque. Acceleration to 60 mph is pegged at around six seconds.


Visually, this trim is identified by a monochromatic exterior design including a Midnight Black paint finish, various and sundry piano black exterior trim, plus a set of dark 18-inch alloy wheels. All this kit contrasts decently with a grey go-faster stripe that runs over the length of the car.

Open the door and you’ll find the expected smattering of trim-specific emblems, so be sure to note their location in case one pops up at Barrett-Jackson in the 2050 calendar year. Its steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather and a “one of 999” badge also crops up. Note well: that’s simply to state this is one of the roughly thousand of these things Mini is making, not its sequential production order. If you show up at Cars & Coffee and someone else is claiming to have the 1st production JCW 1TO6, don’t say we didn’t warn ya.


For the American market, this car uses the the John Cooper Works with Iconic trim as its base, adding $2,500 to that car’s price for a total sticker of $45,300 plus $995 for destination. Remember, the Iconic trim itself commands a $7,000-ish premium for its panoramic moonroof and such, making the 1TO6 about ten grand more than a standard JCW with no appreciable increase in performance. Such is the cost of exclusivity.


Production is expected to begin during the third quarter of this year.


[Image: MINI]


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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

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  • SilverCoupe SilverCoupe on Jun 22, 2023

    That looks pretty darn similar to our 2012 Mini Cooper S (not a John Cooper Works), which is also all blacked out. Ours has some chrome trim around the grille and headlights, and chrome door handles, but that's about it.

    There has not been much change over the years.

  • MaintenanceCosts If I were shopping in this segment it would be for one of two reasons, each of which would drive a specific answer.Door 1: I all of a sudden have both a megacommute and a big salary cut and need to absolutely minimize TCO. Answer: base Corolla Hybrid. (Although in this scenario the cheapest thing would probably be to keep our already-paid-for Bolt and somehow live with one car.)Door 2: I need to use my toy car to commute, because we move somewhere where I can't do it on the bike, and don't want to rely on an old BMW every morning or pay the ensuing maintenance costs™. Answer: Civic Si. (Although if this scenario really happened to me it would probably be an up-trimmed Civic Si, aka a base manual Acura Integra.)
  • El scotto Mobile homes are built using a great deal of industrial grade glues. As a former trailer-lord I know they can out gas for years. Mobile homes and leased Kias/Sentras may be responsible for some of the responses in here.
  • El scotto Bah to all the worrywarts. A perfect used car for a young lady living near the ocean. "Atlantic Avenue" and "twisty's" are rarely used in the same sentence. Better than the Jeep she really wants.
  • 3-On-The-Tree I’ll take a naturally aspirated car because turbos are potential maintenance headaches. Expensive to fix and extra wear, heat, pressure on the engine. Currently have a 2010 Corolla and it is easy to work on, just changed the alternator an it didn’t require any special tools an lots of room.
  • El scotto Corolla for its third-world reliability.
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