If the John Cooper Works variant of the Mini Cooperis a bit too hot, but the base setup is a bit too cold, Mini thinks it has the perfect Goldilocks solution for you. Meet the Mini 1998 GT, the newest model in the brand’s “Icon drop” run of special-edition Minis.
The 1998 GT gets the same brake and suspension setup as the JCW Cooper, but it avoids going whole hog by sticking to the Cooper’s base 161-hp 2.0-liter turbo four. So, while it may be slower than the JCW, it should be just as nimble.
While the newest special edition from Mini does cop the more expensive chassis bits from Mini’s hot JCW models, the less potent engine allows the price to stay approachable at $38,225. Sadly, that doesn’t actually make the 1998 GT some sort of generational bargain when you look at the full Mini lineup. The Cooper S, which churns out 201 hp to the GT’s 161, does so for under $35,000. The price also means that the GT is encroaching on the JCW, which starts at $40,075, yet it makes 228 horses.
If those price comparisons haven’t scared you away, Mini is now taking reservations for the 1998 GT. If your interest is piqued, but this one doesn’t quite do it for you, Mini has two more models planned for its “Icon drop” series, with the next set to be revealed in October.