As the Mini products have aged, so they've grown. The new Cooper Hatch is a little larger than in the past, and the Countryman has packed on the pounds. That leaves a bit of a gap in between for a more compact crossover that offers a little more than the Cooper but not as much as the Countryman. Enter the Mini Aceman. It picks up where the MINI Paceman left off in 2016. Whilst not the most popular model in the range, those who own a Paceman will tell you how they love them - but that can be said about most Mini owners if we're honest. Then there was the relatively unsuccessful Clubman, an estate version of the Cooper Hatch with wonky rear doors. Where the Paceman was only found in 3-door guise, the Clubman had 5 (technically 6) doors.
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The new Mini Aceman takes many of the Paceman's traits and re-envisions them, giving the Aceman a modern look and feel, with the latest technology resting well beneath the skin. This full-electric offering is exciting and vibrant, filled to the brim with youthful energy and an approach to motoring that is bound to implant a grin on your face.
All-electric
The decision to go fully electric with the new Mini Aceman is bold, but it was made with European markets in mind. That's not to say that it won't work in South Africa; we've steadily started accepting EVs for the daily commute, and the electric Mini Copper SE can be spotted occasionally on our roads.
Two variants, E and SE, and three different trims will be available to the South African public in roughly five different combinations. Classic, Favoured, and John Cooper Works trims include a variety of styling cues and convenience features bundled into the package, while the E and SE variants offer differing power outputs and battery capacities.
Styling
Unconventional is one way of describing the Mini Aceman, but at the same time, it all looks so very familiar. The design team at MINI has done well in incorporating traditional Mini styling cues so that it remains immediately identifiable as a Mini product and invokes a sense of nostalgia. The horizontal window lines with a clearly defined glasshouse, the octagonal grille surround, ringed headlights, flush taillights, and short overhangs scream Mini.
The black band that encircles the lower half of the Aceman makes it identifiable as a crossover, with the unpainted bodywork providing peace of mind when taking it off the beaten path. In this band, the new Mini logo differs depending on what trim you choose - a quick identifier for those in the know. The Daytime running lights and LED taillights offer configurable designs, allowing you to further express yourself on the road, creating your personalized look.
Rolling stock consists of optional 19-inch Aceman-specific alloy wheels. The low-profile rubber is a slight mismatch for the Aceman's rugged demeanour, but the overwhelming majority of owners will never take their Aceman off-road, so the fitment of road-biased tyres is not the end of the world.
Rebel Red is an exciting new colour for the Mini Aceman. Again, it can be paired with a contrasting roof, allowing you to ensure that your Aceman has the look you desire. It wouldn't be amiss to call the Mini Aceman a fashion accessory.
Interior
A Mini interior is always a refreshing experience, and in the Aceman, that tradition continues. Again, you find nostalgic throwbacks like the large, circular infotainment screen, remaining one of the traditional speedometer that used to rest in the middle of the dashboard on the original Mini. This large, circular infotainment screen is the all-in-one solution for the interior of the Aceman, replacing the driver display. In SE models, you get a heads-up display showing vitals like speed, navigation, trip computer and remaining charge. Still, this information is readily available on the infotainment screen as well, and your speed is displayed at all times.
Below the screen is another retro throwback with toggle switches for the drive modes, vehicle start 'key', and drive selector. Wireless charging for devices and the key can be found below this, and in the centre console, a small, trimmed cubby is used to hold loose items like keys and such. But it's the trimmings that give the biggest throwback. The use of straps, replete with raised contrast stitching and open-knit woven textiles that adorn the door cards and dashboard, is a somewhat different approach to interior trimming but one that isn't amiss inside the Aceman. We've seen similar textiles in the new BMW X3, but it suits the retro-cool nature of the MINI Aceman far better.
What I appreciate about the Mini is its design approach. They take seemingly mundane items that one wouldn't consider twice and redesign them, not because they have to, but because they want to, and they see these areas as opportunities to create. The sides of the centre consoles and grab handles are unlike anything I've seen before, and the piping on the seats, with its woven textures, is a fresh and welcomed take on the ordinary.
Drivetrain
Both E and SE versions drive the front wheels with a single electric motor. The Aceman E produces 135kW and 290Nm torque, allowing for a 0 to 100 sprint time of 7.9 seconds. The SE variant produces 160kW and 330Nm, giving it a sprint time of only 7.1 seconds. The top speeds are 160 and 170 km/h, respectively.
The battery in the Aceman E stores 42.5 kWh of charge for a range of 310 km, while the larger 54.2 kWh battery in the SE variant allows for a range of 406 km. Both E and SE variants utilize a 400 V architecture, allowing up to 11 kW AC charge, 75 kW DC charge for the E and 95 kW DC charging for the SE. Charging at 95 kW will see the SE charged from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.
The Drive
Several different drive modes are available to help tailor the driving experience to your liking. These include Go-Kart Mode, Vivid Mode, Core Mode, Green Mode, Timeless Mode, Balance Mode and Trail Mode, each with their own unique look and feel. The tweaks extend to the Mini Driving Sounds that plumb 'engine sounds' into the cabin. In Go-Kart Mode, the Aceman comes alive with an eagerness to accelerate and a steering feel that weighs up.
It's not all racy, though. The Aceman can glide along in silent serenity, offering a fairly compliant and comfortable drive at the same time. Kick back and relax as the Aceman takes you to your next rendezvous, safe in the knowledge that the driver assistance systems are helping to keep you safe. Lane-keeping assistant and adaptive cruise control help you eat up the kilometres while you enjoy your music. The Aceman can even park itself when specified with the Parking Assistant Pro.
Pricing
The new Mini Aceman is sold with a 2-year/Unlimited km warranty, the battery covered for 8-years/100 000 km, and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
| Model | Price |
| MINI Aceman E | R800 000 |
| MINI Aceman SE | R892 000 |
