The new Aceman cleverly riffs on MINI design signatures while bringing something fresh to the party. The design team call this ‘charismatic simplicity’, based on typical MINI cues of short overhangs, wheel at each corner chassis and two-box design. The angular LED headlights and octagonal grille still say MINI but are reinterpreted for this all-new electric crossover. Chunky geometric wheelarches and body cladding convey a ready-for-anything rugged character, a look that carries around to the rear with a sturdy looking rear bumper and new-look taillights. Boot space is a handy 300 litres, which extends to 1,005 litres when the rear seats are folded down. There are three trim levels, beginning with ‘Classic’ and progressing to ‘Exclusive’ and ‘Sport’.
PERFORMANCE
The Aceman is only available with all-electric power, and there are two models to choose from, both with front-wheel drive. The Aceman E has a 42.5kWh battery giving it a range of 192 miles on the WLTP cycle, and the 184hp electric motor can power it from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. Alternatively, the Aceman SE has a bigger, 54.2kWh battery and a 218hp motor, for a range of 252 miles and a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds. At a fast-charging station, the battery can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes. Typical MINI go-kart handling is enhanced by a damping system with prestressed stabilisers, which MINI claims improves steering precision and accuracy while ensuring a supple ride.
FEATURES
If you’ve not seen the latest MINI interiors, you’re in for a treat. The cockpit is dominated by a 9.4inch, round central OLED touchscreen (called the MINI Interaction unit) in a nod to the look of the original Issigonis-designed Mini of the sixties. Unlike that classic, the Aceman’s screen can be flipped between Go-Kart Mode, Vivid Mode, Core Mode, Green Mode, Timeless Mode, Balance Mode and Trail Mode, each of which changes the screen display, soundscape and even the ambient lighting. Another charming retro touch, the toggle bar, offers five toggle switches to control parking brake, gear selector, start/stop key, experience mode, and volume control. For a personal voice assistant, MINI gives you Spike, a friendly hound who can respond to your commands for navigation, phone, entertainment, and climate settings. Other neat tech features include the optional MINI Digital Key Plus that transforms your smartphone into a vehicle key, and an optional head-up display.
SAFETY
Parking Assistant comes as standard and can automatically manoeuvre the Aceman into tricky parallel parking spaces, using twelve ultrasonic sensors and four surround view cameras. Other standard features include Lane Departure Warning and Dynamic Cruise Control, while hazard lights are activated at double frequency if a potential rear collision is sensed. Options include Safe Exit, which detects approaching road users like cars or cyclists and warns you when opening the doors, while the Active Cruise Control option regulates the distance to vehicles in front. Another option, Parking Assistant Pro, enables the Aceman to be parked using a smartphone without you needing to be behind the wheel. This allows the MINI Aceman to be driven in and out of a narrow parking space automatically, making it easier to get into the vehicle if space to the side is too limited.
