When you see John Cooper's name glinting on the back of a MINI, you know you're in for a fun ride. Or at least you should be, given the engineer-cum-racing driver's legendary status.

Enzo Ferrari guffawed at Cooper when he dropped an engine over the middle of a race car’s chassis, rather than the front. But Ferrari's derision didn't last long, since Cooper's new configuration was putting the Italian's racers in the shade, forcing Il Commendatore to adopt the same layout.

Cooper's genius didn't stop there. He recognised the potential in the original BMC Mini, and shaped it into the Sixties cultural icon we (or at least some of us) recall so fondly.

After BMW bagged the quintessentially British Mini in 2000, Cooper's name was still used, albeit in inappropriately underpowered versions of the car. A decade-and-a-half later, and the German parent firm now has a better understanding of where to put the John Cooper Works badge. And while neither the terms ‘British’ nor ‘MINI’ ‘is terribly accurate anymore, they couldn't find a better place for the John Cooper Works badge than on this latest MINI hot hatch.

Automotive pundits have heralded this as the most powerful MINI yet – and looking at the stats, it's easy to see why. Endowed with a 2.0-litre, four cylinder, 1998cc turbocharged engine, this not-so-little beast completes the benchmark nought-to-sixty run on just 6.3sec (manual) or 6.1sec (automatic).

This equates to a growling 228bhp. But it is the improved torque (236lb/ft) that really makes this car special, according to the nation's auto-sages. Gone are the days when a MINI would take corners like some sort of deranged dodge 'em. This model sticks to the road as much as can be expected, delivering more control and more comfort.

In terms of head-turning noises, the JCW hits some delightful low notes, and crackles and pops with gay abandon. But these sounds are all appropriate given the new JCW's speed. It'll hit 153mph when floored, a solid 5mph over the previous JCW, and can reach the benchmark 0-62mph two-tenths of a second faster. Yet despite this performance improvement, the JCW delivers substantially better fuel economy: 49.6mpg versus the outgoing model's 42.5.

The standard version comes with sports suspension, 17in alloy wheels, Brembo brakes and sports exhaust.

Internally, MINI lovers will have to decide for themselves if the full-on upholstery and gimmicky LED dash are OTT or not. It certainly doesn't depart too much from what we've seen before.

In terms of price, the 'from' figure of £23,050 looks fair given the BMW and MINI pedigree. But all those extras soon add up. An automatic gearbox, for instance, requires a supplementary £1,330. Many of Britain's automotive prophets would suggest an additional £7k is required to get the best out of the new JCW, pushing it well over the £30,000 line.

Still, as the most powerful MINI ever to leave Oxford's hallowed Cowley plant, such costs won't put true fans off.