All new MINI John Cooper works countryman with automatic gearbox unveiled in UAE

MINI, together with its official UAE importers, Abu Dhabi Motors and AGMC, presented the latest addition to its sporting sub-brand, John Cooper Works, during a series of action packed drive events at the Yas Marina Circuit and Dubai Autodrome. The MINI John Cooper Works drive events will also take place in other countries in the Middle East and are proudly supported by Virgin Megastore MENA while Goodyear represents the exclusive tire brand on all MINI John Cooper Works models that will be driven during the events.

More than 200 guests participated in the customer and media events in the UAE, in which MINI Driver Instructors guided participants through the wide range of driving options available on MINI's exclusive, sporty sub-brand John Cooper Works, including the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, through a series of dynamic driving activities.

Participants also enjoyed taxi drives in the new MINI John Cooper Works GP, the fastest MINI ever built. The limited edition model boasts an extensively modified four-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 160 kW/218 hp, adjustable coilover suspension, an ultra-powerful sports braking system, the DSC stability control system with GP race mode. These, along with model-specific alloy wheels and sports tyres, all ensure superb handling and provided a whole new level of driving fun for the guests. Only 2,000 units of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP have been produced worldwide, a limited number of 20 which are available for purchase from MINI importers across the Middle East.

Available from January 2013 onwards, the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will be available and feature an optional automatic gearbox. Speeding into the fast lane with a 218 hp engine which is channelled through an all-wheel drive system, passengers are guaranteed to get the ride of their lives whether they are travelling on smooth road surfaces or rough terrain.

Having arrived in the region last month, the optional automatic gearbox is also available on the following MINI John Cooper Works models: Hatch, Cabrio, Clubman, Coupé and Roadster.

Linked up as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox tuned to suit its high performance characteristics, the new engine on the MINI John Cooper Works models can be ordered as an option with a six-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic function. Owners who opt to go the automatic route still have the ability to shift gears manually by using the selector or shift paddles located on the steering wheel.

These sporty models are ferocious which have been bred for the race track and adapted for the roads. The MINI John Cooper Works collection plays homage to its pioneering British Racing Driver founder John Newton Cooper, who turned his attention to transforming the original Mini into a performance machine back in the 1960's.

All six MINI John Cooper Works models combine their stand-out sporting potential with unmistakable looks and special equipment features which accentuate the feeling of a race car - both inside and out. The John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit also comes as standard and optimises not only the air flow over and around the cars, but also the visual impact.

Commenting on the arrival of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and new automatic gearbox across the full line-up, Sarah Klippert, MINI Manager, BMW Group Middle East, said: "Currently, the MINI Countryman is the best-selling MINI model in the Middle East, so the new edition of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman coupled with the new automatic gearbox is an exciting addition to the MINI portfolio.

"The UAE is the biggest-selling Middle East market for MINI sales with customers having a preference for high-end Cooper S engines. We are therefore confident that the new John Cooper Works engine, in combination with the automatic gearbox, will contribute significantly to our sales. It will also attract a whole new target audience to MINI's John Cooper Works sub-brand as Middle East customers tend to opt for cars with automatic gearboxes."