You could easily make the argument that Mini is far from being a British brand. Its headquarters is in Munich and the Countryman SUV is even made in Germany. Does any of that really matter? About as much as one other fact: the world’s largest BMW plant is in South Carolina, that site producing multiple oh-so-German SUVs.
Build: Zhangjiagang now plus Cowley from 2026
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If that’s the issue of where the new Aceman hails from out of the way, then what is this little crossover all about? To start with, it is positioned above the three-door and five-door and Convertible Minis. Oh, and it’s not even the brand’s first made-in-China EV, the latest shape Cooper having arrived earlier in 2024.
Perhaps surprisingly, the new EV isn’t that much larger than the little Coopers. A mere 4,070 mm long, this leaves a somewhat suspicious gap to the 4,433 mm Countryman, leading some of us to wonder about some future, additional Mini sized between 4.1 and 4.3 metres.
As at right now, the Mini range is the most unified it has ever been. Each of the three vehicle lines has its own presence, though there are many family traits. Only the Coopers have big circular headlamps and to me that’s a shame as the alternate shapes of the Countryman and Aceman don’t look nearly as good. Still, these things are personal.
Mini interiors all now very premium
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By GlobalDataAside from what’s not exactly a generous amount of back-seat lounging room – if that’s an issue, buy a Countryman, BMW would surely suggest – the interior of the new, tiddler of an EV is superb. Even more importantly, it is very similar to that of the Cooper Electric, facelifted ICE Coopers and Countryman. This is a very good thing.
You fire up the Aceman via the twist of a toggle, putting it into Drive or Reverse via a simple switch which works first time with a precise action. Press P and the electric brake is activated. All very German. Latches also have a precise action and the doors they open are satisfyingly heavy. BMW insists there is room for five inside the car but it’s really a 2+2. The back seat folds 60/40 and boot capacity is a decent 300 litres, expanding to 1,005.
The 240 mm diameter round screen which is part of the new Mini look is there too, and I can think of no other brand which features this in the middle of the dashboard. A head-up display takes care of showing speed and navi directions, or at least it did on the press preview high-spec cars.
Experiences (display modes) also now in every Mini
BMW’s woven recycled fabrics which we knew already from the Countryman and Coopers are present atop the dashboard and on the door cards, their different colours being a pleasing novelty. You can also select one of eight display modes for that big OLED display, as in the Cooper and Countryman, these including Go-Kart, Vivid, Timeless and so on.
On the outside, there’s standard roof rails, a choice of silver or gloss black grilles, various wheel designs and a John Cooper Works appearance package. An actual JCW variant debuted at the Paris motor show in October but isn’t yet available. Arriving in showrooms next year, it will have a 190 kW (258 PS) and 350 Nm motor plus a 49.2/54.2 (net/gross) kWh battery. As with other Aceman variants, drive is to the front tyres only.
Two batteries and E, SE or JCW power grades
There are three trim levels and three option packages: respectively Classic, Exclusive and Sport plus Level 1, 2 and 3. As for variants, these are called E and SE (in addition to the JCW). E signifies a 135 kW (184 PS) and 290 Nm motor paired to a 40.7/42.5 kWh (also net/gross) battery. This gives a claimed range of up to 192 miles, a zero to 62 mph time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of just 99 mph.
Choose the more expensive SE and power rises to 160 kW (218 PS) with 330 Nm of torque while the battery’s capacity is the same as for the JCW. The stated maximum range is 252 miles with a top speed of 105 mph and 0-62 taking 7.1 seconds. The JCW, incidentally, gets there in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 124 mph and a maximum range of 221 miles.
Produced by Spotlight Automotive production joint venture
Both batteries have a ternary lithium (NCM) chemistry. None too surprisingly they are supplied by Great Wall Motor subsidiary SVOLT: GWM is BMW’s Chinese manufacturing partner for the Aceman. Charging is at up to 11 kW AC and 95 DC. All being well, an owner need only wait half an hour for a theoretical 10-80 per cent charge.
Mini’s PR machine claims the Aceman has a go-kart feel and that’s true. Alas not in a totally positive way, mind. The steering is terrifically communicative but the ride is a touch firm and bouncy at times, that perhaps being the trade-off from such a short wheelbase. Nor is the turning circle as good as it could be for such a small vehicle.
Conclusion
This model is an excellent addition for the brand and it’s bound to draw not only many new buyers to Mini showrooms but also entice a lot of Cooper owners to upsize. A genuinely fun little hatchback, perhaps only the occasional bit of tyre-scrabbling and steering-tug detract from the driving experience.
Driven at up to eight tenths of its ability, any Aceman will provide a pleasing balance of handling versus comfort. And if the relatively high pricing doesn’t put too many potential buyers off, BMW has a great chance to now dominate the electric B-segment.
Aceman sales have just commenced. Pricing starts at GBP31,800 OTR.
