Mini has confirmed the name of its upcoming all-electric SUV concept, just ahead of the scheduled premiere on July 27.
Dubbed the Mini Concept Aceman, this small electric ‘crossover’ will preview the design language for the automaker’s all-electric, next-generation model range.
Not much is known at the moment about the Concept Aceman but we know it’ll be all-electric and will be built on a platform that has been developed purely for electric vehicles (EVs).
It’s not confirmed but if there’s a production version of the Aceman electric crossover, it could slot between the regular Hatch and larger Countryman. A new Paceman, perhaps?
As previously detailed, Mini is looking to move its next-generation of vehicles further upmarket with a cleaner, minimalistic design approach. It calls this ‘Charismatic Simplicity’.
Inside the vehicles there’ll be different textures and knits used in the place of leather, which is being phased out from the range, along with chrome.
Mini uploaded a short, portrait-oriented teaser video to Instagram which features very brief glimpses at parts of the Concept Aceman. It builds on a previous teaser image that showed off the car’s boxy silhouette.
This latest teaser video shows off the Concept Aceman’s Union Jack LED tail light signature, as well as a number of other dynamic LED lighting signatures scattered around the concept, the rounded side mirrors and what appears to be funky embroidered upholstery.
Mini head of design Oliver Heilmer previously confirmed that every model in its next-generation range will have a variation of the iconic Union Jack LED tail light signature.
Mini Electric leaked interior image
In addition, every model will also have a fully digital OLED instrument cluster and a circular infotainment screen with physical buttons underneath.
It’s believed that this new infotainment screen was recently spied in a new-generation Mini Electric hatch.
Based on previous updates from Mini, its next-generation model lineup will include the following cars:
- The classic 3-Door Hatch, available with petrol and electric power. It’s expected to be smaller than the current car
- The Countryman SUV, grown up to take on the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA with petrol and electric power, closely related to new-gen BMW X1
- The Aceman electric SUV to slot between the 3-Door Hatch and Countryman
- Another premium compact car in an as-yet unrevealed segment, potentially based on the Vision Urbanaut concept
- A new Convertible, due in 2025
Mini Electric leaked images
As previously detailed, electric versions of the new-generation Mini Hatch are being jointly developed by BMW and Great Wall Motor, and will be built in China for at least some markets.
Petrol versions of the fourth-generation Mini are expected to ride on BMW’s FAAR front- and all-wheel drive architecture, which is an evolution of the UKL platform used by today’s models.
It’s unclear if the electric version of the Mini three-door will ride on the FAAR platform too, or something different.
Vision Urbnaut concept
Mini has previously confirmed the next-generation Hatch will launch in time for the 2023 model year, likely meaning it’ll show its face somewhere in the middle of 2022.
The last new Mini model with an internal-combustion engine will be released in 2025, and Mini says 50 per cent of its sales will be pure-electric by 2027.
Come 2030, every single Mini will be electric. That includes the performance-oriented John Cooper Words brand, which will live on with electric power.
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