Electric hot hatches revealed! 2025 Mini Cooper and Aceman get hi-po John Cooper Works treatment to knock off Abarth 500e and Cupra Born

Mini will give its electric Cooper and Aceman models the John Cooper Works treatment with a 190kW electric motor, marking the brand's most powerful electric car to date.

The information, revealed by CarNewsChina, comes from homologation documents submitted to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which show both versions of three-door Cooper and five-door Aceman small SUV will receive the brand’s latest electric powertrain.

Mini’s new electric powertrain will boast 20kW more power than its petrol predecessor, the third-generation Mini 3 Door Hatch JCW, which used a 170kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. That said, the limited-edition JCW GP had a more potent 225kW/450Nm tune.

The front-drive JCW electric also carries an additional 20kW over EV the Cupra Born, although a more powerful Cupra Born VZ is expected to arrive in Australia next year with 240kW, edging out both versions of the Mini and Aceman electric JCW decisively.

CarNewsChina reports that both models will draw power from a 51.2kWh Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) SVOLT battery pack used in Minis currently on sale in China. Mini currently sources its batteries from Great Wall Motor through a joint venture between BMW.

In Australia, top-spec models of the Mini Cooper and Aceman EVs are sold with a 49kWh (usable) battery pack, with that expected to come equipped on the two JCW versions sold locally.

The JCW’s performance tune will likely see a reduction in range over the current Mini Cooper EV, though, which has a WLTP driving range of 402km on the top-spec Cooper SE.

2025 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works EV

It will deliver a significant bump in the JCW’s top speed which is expected to rise around the 200km/h mark on both models, compared to the Cooper SE and Aceman SE's 170km/h .

In terms of design, both models effectively receive the same exterior treatment, with the addition of black trims and subtle red accents. It's a strong look in these images.

Both models receive black front grilles over their standard versions which are adorned by JCW branding that extends to the door panels and tailgate. They also have a set of individual performance alloys that reveal red brake calipers.

Black panelling is prominent on the Cooper JCW’s tailgate, although it is unclear whether this design feature will be a Chinese market exclusive.

2025 Mini Aceman John Cooper Works EV

Dimensions-wise, the Cooper JCW is 3863mm long, 1756 mm wide and 1458 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2526mm. That’s slightly longer than the standard Mini Cooper EV’s length of 3583mm, while kerb weight is 1670kg with 18-inch wheels as standard.

The Aceman JCW is 4094mm long, 1754mm wide and 1515mm high, with a longer wheelbase over the standard version of 2606mm. The curb weight is 1768kg, with wheels capped at 19-inches.

Additional images submitted to MIIT show both models appear to be highly configurable, with customisable side mirror housing, brake callipers, bonnet decals and two-tone rooftop panelling. There also appears to be the option of a panoramic sunroof on the Aceman JCW model.

2025 Mini Aceman John Cooper Works EV

Pricing of the new Cooper JCW model is expected to start higher than the current electric Cooper SE Yours and Resolute trims, which start at $64,975 and $65,325, respectively.

The Aceman JCW is expected to start above its current starting price in Australia of $55,990 for the Classic trim and $60,990 for the Favoured trim, before on-road costs.

Both Mini JCW models are expected to arrive in Australia some time next year.