John Cooper Works EV enters the North Loop

MINI CEO Bernd Körber said in early November that it would be reasonable to establish John Cooper Works as a separate sub-brand dedicated to electrified high-end MINI vehicles. He did not specify whether hybrid or all-electric, but these new official photos suggest the latter.

The car is called the JCW Electric, and it shares certain design traits with the JCW GP and the battery-powered Cooper SE at once. Among other things, it boasts an aero kit and a fake front grille, and lacks dual tailpipes.

The company says the EV will have a low center of gravity ideal for track use, which explains why it chose the Nürburgring as the first testing destination. All technical specs remain a mystery, though.