New Mini John Cooper Works Clubman Gets All-Wheel Drive With 228HP

As expected, the six-door Mini Clubman has been given the Works treatment to bring it in line with the other members of the burgeoning BMW division.

The Mini John Cooper Works Clubman, as it was announced Tuesday, will join the hardtop, convertible and Countryman models in getting the hotter engine and more aggressive styling befitting of Minis top performance models. But in the Clubman’s case, it gets standard all-wheel drive (All4 in Mini-speak) to go with the latest 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that puts out 228hp (231PS) and 258 pound-feet of torque.

According to the company, the Works Clubman is capable of 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 6.3 seconds with either the standard six-speed manual or optional 8-speed automatic. Brembo brakes, a sport exhaust system and lots of Works badging is also part of the package. Inside, the Works Clubman also gets the more aggressive racing seats found on other hot Minis.

When we drove the Mini Clubman S with its standard tune 2.0-liter turbo, it was a lively performer despite its 189 horsepower falling noticeably short of cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST. But it’s also already a grown-up Mini, which in theory puts it at odds with previous Works models that have heightened the old Mini go-kart appeal. How will that translate to this refined Clubman?

With nearly 230 horses, the Works will fall somewhere in the middle of the VW and Ford, but its mandatory all-wheel drive is bound to make for a different experience – and add to the Clubman’s already lofty sticker price. We’ll let you know if it’s worth it soon.