The Mini Aceman, the company’s smallest crossover, and one that will be electric-only, has been revealed overnight at the 2024 Beijing motor show.
Mini Australia has confirmed the Aceman will be arriving in local showrooms from the fourth quarter of 2024. Local pricing and specs will be announced closer to its Australian debut.
The Aceman is based on the same all-electric Spotlight architecture developed with Chinese automaker GWM. This platform currently underpins the electric Mini Cooper.
Both the electric Cooper hatch and Aceman crossover will be built for global markets in a joint venture factory in Zhangjiagang, about 130km north-west of Shanghai.
The Aceman measures 4.07m long, 1.75m wide, and 1.50m tall, making it around 252mm longer than the Cooper and 40mm taller. Boot space is rated at 300L with all five seats in their upright positions, and 1005L when the 60/40 split-fold rear seats are put down.
With the Clubman axed, and no word on a five-door electric Cooper, it’s likely the Aceman will be the smallest five-door EV offered by Mini.
Stylistically, the new Aceman mixes cues from the larger Countryman, including its squared off headlights, abdunance of plastic cladding, and angular fenders and wheel arches, with elements from the electric Cooper, such as the lift-up door handles and non-clamshell bonnet.
At launch the Aceman will be available with two drivetrain choices: E and SE, both of which have a single electric motor driving the wheels, and a maximum AC charging rate of 11kW.
In the base E there’s 135kW and 290Nm available, which is good for a 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 160km/h.
Coupled to a 42.5kWh battery that supports DC fast charging up to 75kW, the E is said to have a 310km driving range under the WLTP cycle.
The more powerful SE boasts 160kW and 330Nm, and is capable of completing the 0-100km/h dash in 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 170km/h.
In addition to a few extra spuds under the bonnet, the SE also has a larger 54.2kWh battery pack with a claimed WLTP range of 406km.
The Aceman will be offered in four trim lines, starting off the base Essential. Step up to the Classic level and the car gains a gloss black grille frame, white or black contrasting roof and mirrors, and body-coloured bumpers and inner grille trim.
The Favoured trim line has white wing mirror caps, a silver grille frame, and the option of a multi-tone roof, while the sporty JCW spec has more aggressive bumpers at both ends, a red roof, red bonnet stripes, and plenty of gloss black trim.
Depending on the trim level, the Aceman rides on either 17-, 18-, and 19-inch wheels with a variety of designs available.
On the inside the Aceman sports a dashboard arrangement that’s similar to both the electric and petrol-powered Cooper models, as well as the latest Countryman.
Ahead of the driver is a steering wheel with a large central boss, and on some trim levels a head up display. In the centre of the heavily textured dashboard is a 9.5-inch circular OLED touchscreen display that houses both instrumentation output, as well as controls for the infotainment and climate systems.
Under the screen is a small bank of physical switches for the electronic parking brake, gear selector, volume knob, power adjuster, and an Experiences mode selector. There are also buttons for the parking sensors/camera, demisters, and hazard lights.
Available features in the Aceman include a wireless smartphone charging pad, automated parking, remote parking via smartphone, a natural language voice assistant, trailer assist, and the ability to use your smartphone as a digital key.
