Skip advert
Advertisement

New MINI Aceman: details, specs, reveal date and leaked images of MINI’s small EV SUV

The all-new MINI Aceman will make its world debut on 24 April as brand prepares to enter the small electric SUV market’s battle royale

MINI is in for a fight as it prepares to enter a very crowded market segment with its new all-electric Aceman crossover. Designed to plug the gap between the new MINI Cooper and Countryman SUV, the MINI Aceman will be officially unveiled on 24 April at Auto China, often referred to as the Beijing Motor Show, before going on sale later this year with prices likely to start from around £38,000.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At just over four metres long the MINI Aceman will compete against a varied range of potential rivals including the Volvo EX30, Hyundai Kona Electric, Renault Megane E-Tech, Jeep Avenger and Smart #1. The forthcoming Ford Puma Gen-E is another potential challenger, as are electrified C-segment hatchbacks such as the Peugeot E-308 or Vauxhall Astra Electric

Details about the Aceman have been slowly drip fed to us over the last few years, including its use of the same EV-specific platform as the electric MINI Cooper and a 54.2kWh battery pack that will probably provide a range of around 250 miles. However, images have now surfaced online revealing the car in full, well ahead of its April debut.

What will the MINI Aceman look like? 

The patent images we sourced from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show the MINI Aceman falls into line with the brand’s latest design language, and takes its lead from the latest MINI Countryman

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Being a pure-electric model, the MINI Aceman features a blanked-off octagonal grille, plus the usual MINI floating roof effect created by blanking off the pillars. The wheelarches on the Aceman appear to be more angular and pronounced than those on the Countryman however, while the plastic bumpers and side cladding help it look tougher and more 4x4-like.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Both front and rear screens are more steeply angled than on MINI’s other models, reiterating the fact this will be more of a lifestyle crossover SUV. In regards to the front screen, this should also help with aero, improving high-speed efficiency.

How big and practical is it?

MINI has confirmed dimensions for the new Aceman, reaching 4,075mm in length, 1,754mm wide (without mirrors) and 1,495mm in height. That means it’s about the same size as the Jeep Avenger, but the Volvo EX30 is roughly 150mm longer and nearly 100mm wider. 

When we were given a chance to sit in a prototype ourselves, we found that with the wheels pushed out to the far corners of the bodywork the Aceman offers enough space in the back for a six-foot-tall passenger to sit behind a similar-sized driver. The boot is rather small, though, with a high sill to lift stuff over.

What’s the interior design like?

The Aceman’s cabin should be almost identical to that of its three-door hatch sibling. The focal point is an ultra-slim 9.4-inch OLED circular display responsible for both the infotainment and vital driver information like your speed and state of charge – just like the setup in the aforementioned EX30.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

They’ll also be a selection of ‘MINI Experience Modes’ on offer that change the look of the screen and interior lighting, and provide their own unique soundtrack. In the MINI Cooper, drivers have a choice of Core, Green, Go-Kart, Personal, Vibrant, Timeless and Balance modes.

Speaking to Auto Express, head of MINI Stephanie Wurst revealed the new Aceman crossover will be a “gamified concept” and that “the go-kart feeling will always be of the utmost importance.” He also confirmed that hot John Cooper Works versions of every new MINI are on the cards, so a sporty Aceman with extra power could serve as a range-topping model.

When will it go on sale?

Following its reveal on 24 April, the MINI Aceman is expected to go on sale before the end of the year. The price of the Aceman should split the difference between the electric MINI Cooper SE, which uses the same 54.2kWh battery as the Aceman, and the MINI Countryman EV. With prices for those starting from £34,500 and £42,080, respectively, the Aceman is likely to be priced from around £38,000.

Initially, the Aceman will be built alongside the three-door MINI Cooper Electric in China, however following £600m of investment in MINI’s Oxford plant, both cars will be built in the UK from 2026.

Now read our list of the best small electric cars on sale right now...

Skip advert
Advertisement
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New MINI Aceman EV leaked online: honey they shrunk the Countryman!
MINI Aceman - front
News

New MINI Aceman EV leaked online: honey they shrunk the Countryman!

The first images of the all-electric MINI Aceman have surfaced online, ahead of the official reveal on 24 April
13 Mar 2024

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024