The Beijing Motor Show was the venue for the world launch of the Mini Aceman, a compact electric five-seat crossover. On size, it slips in between the Mini Cooper hatch and Mini Countryman family SUV, the latter now also available as an EV which arrives here soon.
Aceman measures up at a whisker over 4m in length and will compete with the likes of Volvo EX30 and Jeep Avenger. It was previewed by an Aceman Concept in 2022.
The new Mini model is underpinned by the same EV-specific platform as the electric Mini Cooper. It comes as a base E model with a 45kWh battery pack, giving it a range of roughly 300km. With a 135kW motor it can evidently hit 100 from stopped in just under 8sec.
Step up to the SE and you score a 54.2kWh battery pack that’s hooked up to a 165kW/330Nm motor and reduces the sprint time to a tich over 7sec. Claimed range rises to over 400km. That’s likely the model that New Zealand will take. There will be no petrol engine for the Aceman. Expect the usual sparkling “go-kart feeling” Mini dynamics, however.
Styling is evolved from that of the current Mini Countryman. It has a solid octagonal-shaped grille, plus a floating roof effect, the result of blanked off pillars. The wheel arches on the Aceman are pronounced, giving it an off-road ready AWD look. But the reality is drive via the front wheels.
Both front and rear glass screens are relatively laid back, in the lifestyle crossover fashion, improving aero efficiency at open road speeds.
Dimensions (LxWxH) are 4075mm, 1754mm and 1495mm. That’s 354mm shorter than Countryman and 217mm longer than Cooper. Wheels are pushed out to the far corners of the bodywork so the Aceman offers reasonable space in the back for adults. The boot is compact, however, at 300L-1005L with split folding, slightly less than that of its rivals.
Expect the cabin to ape that of its three-door hatch sibling. Up front is a slimline 9.4-inch OLED circular display handling infotainment and key driver information like speed and battery state of charge. The interior is free of chrome and leather, with knit surface trim for the dash. Toggle switches remain for oft-used functions.
‘Mini Experience Modes’ are present that change the look of the screen and interior lighting, with their own unique soundtrack. Expect around seven different settings. There’s a Mini assistant for the first time too, summoned with ‘Hey Mini’ phrasing.
A hot JCW variant is likely though with no more power; think sportier suspension instead.
Generally Minis go on sale the same day as they are revealed. Expect Aceman to sell for a price similar to EX30 or Jeep Avenger, so kicking off somewhere in the late sixties vicinity here.
Initially, the Aceman will be built alongside the three-door Mini Cooper Electric in China but eventually it will also be manufactured in Mini’s Oxford plant in the UK.
Confirmed pricing and specifications are due out soon.
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