The new Mini John Cooper Works is a little more refined than its predecessor, but it's still jailbait on wheels, writes Thomas Falkiner The previous Mini John Cooper Works is a machine I remember fondly. Partly because it was the first car to nearly send me to the slammer for speeding, and partly because it was such an absolute riot to pilot. When not stuck on the shoulder of the N3 highway bargaining with Ekurhuleni's finest, I was revelling in the way it weaseled through the streets. It was wriggly and hard and uncompromising - like a Lotus Elise with a bigger boot and aft seating for ants.Although born in the decade of YouTube, the JCW was a throwback to hot hatches of old. A turbocharged salute to torque-steer, cocked rear wheels and lift-off oversteer. While the Golf GTI pandered to level-headed sensibilities, the JCW existed for pure, unadulterated fun.But that was then and this is now. Today we're living in a world where extremes are no longer tolerated - especially as far as cars are concerned. Take the Renault Clio Sport for example. For years it was a champion of automotive asperity; a renegade that delivered purist driving thrills for not much money. Now it has morphed into an expensive sellout: a play-it-safe shopping trolley that tries to hide its shortcomings behind a cloud of electronic gimmicks. Like customisable engine sounds that blast through the speakers.mini_story_image_hleft1It's a worrisome trend. So this is why, stepping towards an all-new, third-generation Mini JCW lurking in a Mallorca parking lot, I can't help but feel apprehensive.Despite being the most powerful production Mini ever built, it's still longer, wider and heavier than its jail-baiting predecessor. Having said this, it does, thanks to those extra kilowatts, lay claim to a marginally better power-to-weight ratio. Not that I can put this to the test right now because the island's Saturday streets are chock-a-block with motorcyclists, tour buses and Alberto Contador wannabes. So I take it easy and see how the JCW copes with traffic drudgery.And almost immediately it impresses. OK, so it's still no GTI, but compared to the outgoing model this range-topping Mini is noticeably more livable. Particularly if you shell out for the optional Dynamic Damper Control system that lets you firm up the suspension, or in this case soften it.No longer do my vertebrae clatter together like glass prayer beads as I steer down a particularly lumpy tract of tarmac. The alcantara sports seats are cosseting while the level of sound insulation, both from wind and road, is becoming of a marque that is increasingly premium. You can add all sorts of exotic lifestyle electronica into the mix: satellite navigation, smartphone internet connectivity for apps like Spotify, plus a block-rocking Harman/Kardon sound system.The asphalt coils around the Mallorca coastline like a lazy snake; its slithery curves and cambers tailor-made for spirited driving. Unfortunately I can't enjoy very much of it as the bikers are still out in force. Luckily the powers-that-be have arranged a little track time on the imaginatively named Circuit Mallorca. And after being briefed by 1967 Monte Carlo Rally winner Rauno Aaltonen, I'm finally able to make those low-profile tyres squeal.This is a very easy machine to drive fast. The old car was, with its shorter wheelbase, a lot twitchier. But with a few extra millimetres separating the two axles this new JCW feels much more stable and forgiving.story_article_right1It simplifies the science of speeding even further with features like a trick manual gearbox that blips the throttle on downshifts for flawless cog swapping.Then there's the BMW-sourced engine that produces more torque lower down the rev range - which means less stirring of the gear lever, even through some of this circuit's tighter hairpin bends. The Brembo brakes provide ample stopping power, while twin tailpipes spit out a metallic snarl which is peppered with burps and pops when you come off the gas. There's still a good sense of occasion in this car.What I'm not particularly fond of is the revised electro-mechanical power steering. In the old JCW the leather helm in front of you felt fused to the bones in your hands. The new one, despite being similarly direct, doesn't have quite the same feel as previous hot Mini models.I'm also dubious about the electronic "limited-slip differential". A proper mechanical unit limits wheel spin with worm and spur gears. Here Mini mimics this effect using microchips and the front brakes. It's artful imitation that works pretty well, all things considered, but I'd still prefer the real deal.But I'm starting to nitpick. Considering the evils of performance-car evolution, Mini has just about managed to engineer a hard-charging package that blends the best of both worlds. For even though it has lost the raw, unrelenting edge of its predecessor, the new JCW remains a highly competent driving tool.It may take a while to find but the talent is still there. It's just hiding behind a much thicker veneer of comfort and refinement. All of which ultimately means that getting into trouble with the law will now require even less effort than it did before. You've been warned.mini_story_image_hleft2FAST FACTS ABOUT THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKSEngine: 1998cc four-cylinder turbo petrolPower: 170kW at 5200rpmTorque: 320Nm at 1250rpmTransmission: six-speed manual0-100km/h: 6.3 secondsTop speed: 246km/hFuel: 6.7l/100km (combined)CO2: 155g/kmPrice: From R418 000Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @TomFalkiner111 Listen to the Story-Behind-The-Story here:nbsp;..