And just what makes it so special? The Works team took all that Cooper S balance and poise and pumped up the 1.6-L 4-cylinder engine with a new Eaton supercharger, transforming 163-hp at 6,000 rpm into nothing short of 200-hp at 6,950 rpm.

Starting with the standard 1.6-L 4-cylinder engine, the Works team added an Eaton Supercharger increasing horsepower from 163 to 200. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

While there are loads of plebian midsize family cars with an equivalent level of maximum output or more, the Works Cooper S has a distinct lack of mass on its side. With the standard Cooper S weighing in at a shade over 1,215 kg (2,679 lbs), and the new model not expected to be that much heavier, it can put much more of its 177 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 22 lb-ft over the standard S, to the job of forward momentum. Peak torque remains attainable at a tractable 4,000 rpm, perfectly suited to its 6-speed manual transmission.

Aside from the supercharger, the Works team also modified port flow, reprogrammed the ECU and added a low backpressure stainless steel exhaust system. (Photo: MINI)

So how fast is it? The new model shaves 0.9 seconds off of a standstill sprint to 100 km/h, the end number being 6.5 seconds instead of 7.4. Top speed is increased as well, from 217 to 225 km/h (135 to 140 mph).

The new supercharger isn't the only reason the JCW car is fast however. The Works team has modified the engine's head to improve port flow, reprogrammed the ECU and added a parallel flow, low backpressure stainless steel exhaust system.