In the lead up to the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, Mini has already revealed its Electric Concept, an intriguing preview of the upcoming Mini EV production car. And then there's this just revealed concept: the Mini John Cooper Works GP. Picking up right where the 2012 Mini John Cooper Works GP and 2006 Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit left off, the new JCW GP Concept is hopefully a preview of a hardcore, track-focused production version. Those two predecessors, for example, each had 2,000 examples built.

Compared to the standard Mini Cooper, the JCW GP Concept is quite a bit wider, featuring large front and rear aprons, side skirts and a prominent roof spoiler. Those large front air scoops are hopefully not just for show. There's no way anyone can miss that massive rear wing. Riding on 19-inch wheels, carbon fiber build materials are literally everywhere, helping to optimize power-to-weight ratio. Speaking of which, what's under the hood? Unfortunately, Mini hasn't divulged the drivetrain or any performance specs. Bear in mind it's still just a concept. The interior has been completely stripped down, leaving only a roll cage, low-mounted bucket seats with five-point harnesses, a digital instrument cluster and a paddle-shift transmission.

"If you know about Mini, you'll be aware of the brand's long and successful history in motorsport," says Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president of BMW Group Design. "The Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept brings together the full suite of defining Mini design features and showcases them at their sportiest and most exciting. What we're looking at here is maximum performance, maximum Mini." We'll have more details and photos for you next week directly from Frankfurt.