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It features a revised turbocharger, which produces more boost – 1.3bar, up from 0.9bar – a larger intake which has been 'cleaned' to ensure smooth, unrestricted airflow to the engine and a full sports exhaust system from the manifold backwards.

This last modification is one of the most appealing, offering the 'snap, crackle and pop' that buyers of BMW's original supercharged Cooper S offered.

And now some technical information…

Internally, the engine has a thicker cylinder head and gasket as well as upgraded valves and valve seat rings to withstand increased engine temperatures. The pistons have reinforced sidewalls, reducing the compression ratio to 10:1 so the engine can extract more power from the fuel and air compressed in the cylinders.

All this adds up to an engine which produces massive power for a 1.6-litre lump. Peak power is 211bhp, while maximum pulling power is 206lb/ft between 1,850 and 2,000rpm. Even at a low 1,850rpm 162lb/ft is on tap, reducing the need to rev the engine hard, which saves fuel and reduces emissions.

And the Mini John Cooper Works boasts scintillating performance; 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 148mph. That puts it on a level, or even better than the Volkswagen Golf GTi, Renault Clio RenaultSport Cup, Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type-R.

40mpg, 165g/km CO2

But where the Mini JCW is even more impressive, is when it comes to its green credentials. It can cover an average of 40.9mpg, while emitting 165g/km of CO2 – the best in its class by some margin.

The sonorous engine has a very smooth power delivery, and feels muscular at any engine speed.

And the Mini JCW is very capable of getting this power through the front wheels and on to the road.

That's thanks in part to its Dynamic Traction Control system, fitted to a Mini for the first time. DTC has three modes, fully on, partially on which increases the tolerance before the Dynamic Stability Control kicks in, and fully off which deactivates both DSC and DTC.

When deactivated, the Mini John Cooper Works' Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) kicks in. It electronically slows the spinning rear wheel under hard cornering to improve traction. Unlike DSC and DTC, the EDLC doesn't cut engine power, leaving the driver in total control.

Through a series of tests, designed to simulate cornering hard on a wet road, and braking avoidance, it is clear DTC is a competent system; but the star of the show was the EDLC, which kept the car in total control; working in the background without any obvious intervention.

A Sport button mounted in front of the steering wheel sharpens throttle response and steering.

With this capable cornering, it's easy to forget the power of the brakes. They're the biggest ever fitted to a Mini, and the Brembo calipers feature four pistons each and carry the John Cooper Works logo. There's a very progressive feel through the pedal, which offers a lot of resistance and lacks the frustrating grabby nature of some other 'big brake' setups.

Outstanding handling

The Mini JCW retains the same sharp and responsive steering that won the standard Cooper S thousands of fans, but the new car features new suspension adapted from the Mini Challenge race car.

While firm, the suspension is rarely crashy over bumps and only becomes uncomfortable on very bumpy roads. Mini also offers firmer and lower suspension setups as options.

Driving the Mini JCW hatchback and Clubman back to back revealed two very different personalities. The hatchback feels almost too alert at the front, darting from point to point in the blink of an eye. It is a textbook hot hatch, allowing the driver to throw it into corners with complete confidence.

The Mini John Cooper Works Clubman feels more balanced, flowing through corners with more fluidity, thanks to its longer wheelbase. Although both sensational drivers' cars, the Clubman arguably has the edge on the road.

Unlike the retro-fit JCW kit previously available, the new car comes with a number of exterior enhancements. It features bespoke lightweight 17-inch cross-spoke alloy wheels and unique front and rear bumpers and side skirts. It also has a smattering of John Cooper Works badging and two oversized exhausts – centrally-mounted in the hatchback, and at either side on the Clubman.

There's also a range of sporty kit in the cabin, with more JCW logos, body-hugging sports seats, anthracite roof lining, and racy red bits.

Plus it comes with a good level of equipment, including run-flat tyres, remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, air-con and a single-slot CD player with an auxiliary input for an MP3 player.

Mini says when it comes to safety, it’s a small car with big car features. It counts DTC, DSC, hill hold, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, tyre pressure warning and driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags as standard, ensuring its five star EuroNCAP crash test rating.

The Mini John Cooper Works has placed Mini among the very best practical drivers' cars on sale today. It’s a complete package, which won’t fail to excite the driver. The Clubman, which goes on sale in early 2009 is the one to go for, but the hatchback isn’t far behind.