FIRST DRIVES
3 1 JULY 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 33
All-wheel-drive John Cooper Works turns up the heat to 302bhp
MINI CLUBMAN JCW
MAZDA MX-5 30 TH
ANNIVERSARY
TESTED 25.7.19, FRANKFURT ON SALE NOW
@loballan
W
e were never particularly fond
of the old John Cooper Works
Clubman. Chief among the
tally of gripes was the 228bhp
motor, which despite decent on-paper
figures lacked the instant shove you’dexpect and meant the JCW variant
barely justified its not insubstantial
premium over the regular Cooper S.
Mini recognised this (“it was a
JCW in name only” one engineer told
us on this launch) and the changes
that come with the range-wide
2019 Clubman update ref lect that.
The 2.0-litre unit, borrowed from
the platform-sharing BMW M135i,
hikes the power to a gratifyingly
competitive 302bhp – enough for a
sub-5.0sec 0-62mph sprint. A stint
on a quiet autobahn saw the new
155mph limiter reached with little
drama, too.
While the standard eight-speed
automatic gearbox and unflappable
all-wheel drive allow you to pull away
in the same undramatic yet ruthlessly
efficient way as a Volkswagen Golf
R, you now get a shove in the back
and the punchy top end to go with
the vocal, if slightly artificial, sound
effects. Put simply, the performancegap between this and the Cooper S
is obvious and welcome, but the
increased interaction and sense of
pa c e a f forde d b y a m a nu a l ge a rb ox
would be more welcome still.
Elsewhere, drivetrain mountings
and suspension components have
had small revisions to help the JCW
manage the power and adopt a stiffer
feel. There’s also a rejigged stability
control system, new strut bracing and
larger four-piston rear brakes. The
results aren’t dramatic: the hottest
Clubman still majors on secure grip
levels and stable body control rather
than outright entertainment, but it
fe e l s mor e t ie d dow n t h a n e v e r. It ’s
effective rather than thrill a minute,
although there was no criticising
the effective line tightening of the
mechanical differential on our
twisty launch route.
There remain significant snags
that stop it being a consummate
all-rounder, though. The ride,even on our car’s optional adaptive
dampers and smaller, 18in wheels, is
controlled at high speed but seems
l i k e it w i l l b orde r on b e i n g t o o s t i f f
i n t he U K ’s p ot hole d t ow n s. It ’s not
c he ap, e v e n b e for e M i n i’s e nd le s s
option programme is perused.
And the inherent compromises
of t he C lubm a n’s de si g n me a n it ’s
barely more practical than a rival
hatchback, let alone a true estate.
LAWRENCE ALLAN
A SPECIAL-EDITION MX-5 to
mark its 30th birthday, the 30th
Anniversary is painted Racing
Orange. Ostensibly, a 181bhp 2.0-litre
MX-5 Sport with the same sport
suspension, limited-slip differential
and strut brace as that car, the 30th
Anniversary swaps the Sport’s 16in
a l loy s for 17 i n R ay s w he e l s a nd
gets a Brembo front brake caliper
upgrade. Those two material changes
make little difference to the driving
experience, which remains great:
typically zesty, agile and involving.
To d i a l up t he s p or t i n g app e a l e v e n
more, it’s well worth adding Mazda’s
dealer-fit lowered suspension springs
and sports exhaust, which tie down
the car’s body control and pep up its
soundtrack a treat. MS
Price £34,250
Engine 4 cyls, 1998cc,
turbocharged, petrol
Power 302bhp at 5000-6250rpm
Torque 332lb ft at 1750-5000rpm
Gearbox 8-spd automatic
Kerb weight 1565kg
0-62mph 4.9sec
Top speed 155mph
Economy 38mpg
CO 2 , tax band 169g/km, 37%
RIVALS BMW M135i, Mercedes-AMG
A3 5 , Vo l k swa g e n G o l f R
Price £28,095 On sale Now
What’s new? Limited-run MX-5 in a bright colour.
Few mechanical changes but still great to driveMINI CLUBMAN JOHN COOPER WORKS
Finally gets the firepower it needs.
It’s good to drive but lacks the last
degree of fun factor and usabilityAAABC
AAAAB
READ MORE ONLINE
autocar.co.uk
AUDI Q7 5 0 TDI SPORT
THE NEW Q7 is an SUV for those
who enjoy the finer things in life.
You know, things like impeccable
ride refinement, a plush cabin and
a powerful yet civilised engine.
With air suspension now standard
across the range, a cabin that’s now
architecturally aligned with the Q8’s
and a 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel that’snow coupled with a 48V mild-hybrid
system, it ticks all those boxes.
It doesn’t offer much in the way
of driver engagement and its eight-
speed gearbox can be a bit damp
in its response to part-throttle inputs,
but as a comfortable, quiet and
effortless long-distance machine,
t h i s W LT P- c ompl i a nt Q 7 w i l l b e
tough to overlook. SD
Price £60,000 (est) On sale September 2019
What’s new? Facelifted Q7 gains a fresh look,
new infotainment and 48V mild-hybrid tech
AAAAC
It’s spacious enough in the front but don’t go thinking it’s a practical estate