The Aceman, a new electric-only production model from Mini that looks like it is based on the Aceman concept car, was revealed. This car is in the middle of the Countryman SUV and the Cooper Hardtop in terms of size. It hasn’t been announced for the US market yet, but it should come here. It’s always fun to see an idea for a car design come to life, and the new Mini Aceman is a great example of that. When the final form of this new electric-only car was shown off, it looked a lot like the earlier Aceman concept. This sharper shape is clear, whether you like it or not, and the inside has a simple look like other newly modified Minis. As a crossover, the Aceman isn’t very big—it’s bigger than the Cooper Hardtop but smaller than the Countryman SUV—but it has just the right amount of body covering to make it look like a small pickup. The Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro are both small electric cars, but this one is only 160 inches long. It’s even shorter than the current Chevy Bolt EV. It still has five seats, and Mini says it can carry up to 35 cubic feet of stuff when the back seats are folded down. Of the two motor choices in Europe, the Aceman SE engine, which is more powerful and has a longer range, is most likely to be brought into the US. Mini thinks that the WLTP cycle range will be over 250 miles with a 54.2-kWh battery and an electric engine that makes 218 horsepower. The base Aceman E probably won’t be able to compete with other EVs in the US because it only has 184 horsepower and a 42.5-kWh battery. At least at first, these front-wheel-drive, single-motor cars will be the only ones offered. The main feature of the dashboard is a big round touchscreen. There aren’t any standard gauges or other controls lower on the center stack. Toggle buttons, among other things, let you start and stop the engine, change the drive mode, and change gears. Unique textiles with beautiful designs are used to cover the door panels and part of the dashboard. There is no need for head-up screens. Even though Mini has yet to say for sure that the Aceman will come to the US market, we don’t see why it wouldn’t. There will be news about it at least next year, so stay tuned.
