Mini's sportier cars, the John Cooper Works versions of the Countryman and Clubman, get a 73-hp boost to 301 horsepower for 2020.

Mini claims up to a 1.5-second improvement in zero-to-60-mph time for the new JCW models.

The cars will go on sale in the United States in late summer.

The John Cooper Works versions of the Mini Countryman and Mini Clubman are being refreshed for 2020. JCW, Mini's sporting nameplate, takes its name from John Cooper himself, a racing driver and developer of the original Mini Cooper. There are JCW variants of all three modern Minis, which sit above base and S models at the top of the cars' price and performance lineups.

The new JCW Countryman and Clubman models will share a 301-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard paddle shifters, and standard all-wheel drive with a locking front differential. The engine is a revised version of the one that powers S models of the Countryman and Clubman, where it makes 189 horsepower. To find the extra grunt for JCW models, Mini modified the crankshaft, installed new main bearings, a larger turbocharger, and JCW-specific pistons and connecting rods, and tweaked the compression ratio. Torque is increased from 258 lb-ft in the outgoing model to 331 lb-ft.

Mini says the power bump will help propel the Countryman from zero to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and the Clubman to the same speed in 4.9 seconds. We tested a manual-transmission 2017 Clubman JCW at 6.7 seconds to 60 mph, so if Mini's estimate proves true, the performance upgrade for new models will be significant.

View Photos Guenter Schmied

Mini has tweaked the cars' chassis, and two-mode adaptive dampers will be optional in both the Countryman and Clubman. The front and rear axle have been tweaked, too. The focus was rigidity and weight reduction with the goal of improving cornering performance. There's also a new sport exhaust, fitted with a fuel particulate filter to meet Europe's current emissions standards, because not every part of building a new car can be fun.

The exterior provides some clues to the cars' sporting intentions. Both will wear JCW logos on the front and rear, feature red-painted calipers, and be available with a red roof and red mirror caps. The Clubman comes standard with 18-inch wheels, but 19s are available. No word on wheels for the Countryman, but the current model has standard 18-inchers. A red crossbar in the front grille also helps to differentiate these JCW models from their less sporty siblings.

View Photos Mini

LED headlights and taillights are standard, and the Clubman's taillights now have a subtle Union Jack motif, in keeping with Mini's British heritage and marketing savvy. Both cars come standard with keyless entry and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Buyers can pay extra for an 8.8-inch touchscreen with navigation.

Mini hasn't announced pricing for either the JCW Countryman or the JCW Clubman, but current models command a $6500 and $5000 premium, respectively, compared with all-wheel-drive S models. The cars will go on sale in late summer 2019.

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