The Mini has come a long way since the tiny two door was revealed way back in 1959 and as generations have come and gone, it’s adjusted with the times and remains contemporary.
With the world placing its focus on new energy vehicles (NEV) Mini has come to the party with the unveiling of the first crossover model for the premium small car segment with the fully electric Aceman.
Developed in a joint venture with BMW Group and Great Wall Motors (GWM) the Aceman fills the void left by the Clubman, which won’t be part of their offering although fortunately there’s still a five-door Cooper hatch.
It may be a Mini and slot into the premium small car segment, but at 4 076mm long, 1 754mm wide and 1 514mm tall it’s not exactly tiny tot anymore.
Model range
For now we’re getting both the E and more potent SE models but Mini SA say that most of the attention is likely to be focused on the SE and that the E variant is likely to become an order bank option.
The R800 000 E has a single electric motor with 135kW and 290Nm of torque which will get to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The 42.5kWh battery pack allows for fast charging of 75kW and plugged into a DC Charging station should take 29 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% and an AC charge four hours and 25 minutes from 0-100% providing a claimed range of 305 kilometers.
The 160kW 330Nm SE variant with a 0-100km/h time of 7.1 seconds, has a permanent magnet synchronous motor coupled with a 54.2kWh lithium-ion battery.
It can accommodate DC charging of up to 95kW which should take about 30 minutes to get from 10-80% and an AC charge five hours and 50 minutes from 0-100%.
Fully charged Mini says it should have a range of 400km but on the launch our range showed 328km with the battery at 100%.
Exterior
The exterior accentuates the fun factor associated with the Mini with sculptured lines described as minimalist, funky colour options including two-tone with a black roof and a new Rebel Red, all round black plastic cladding with front and rear skidplates and roof rails to provide it with its SUV-type look.
Our launch car was fitted with the optional 19-inch Aceman specific alloys.
Interior
The fun factor continues in the interior with what they call “Charismatic Simplicity”.
The “floating” door handles are unique to the Aceman and they’ve used a number of different recycled materials with bold accents on the dash and other trim to keep it vibrant.
The steering wheel is rather chunky and people with small hands may find it uncomfortable while the hallmark central OLED display is both the infotainment system and instrument panel.
The display is easy to use and remarkably quick to respond with clear graphics.
The remodeled toggle bar has a proper tactile feel to it and allows you to switch between eight driving modes that include Core, Personal, Vivid, Green, Timeless, Balance, Trail and Go-Cart that enhances throttle response.
Each mode has its own tune as you move between them.
Driving the Aceman
Behind the wheel of the SE it’s a comfortable driving position and while it’s supposed to be a five-seater, I would hesitate to put someone in the middle seat of the passenger bench.
As with all electric cars the torque on pull away is immediate and while it’s not as violent as some EVs there’s more than enough to have fun driving it.
Accelerating hard there’s what sounds like a synthesizer piped noise into the car, and while it does provide some distraction, both my driving partner and I found it to be intrusive.
Thankfully when cruising normally there’s none of that and only the slight sound of wind from the side mirrors and minimum road noise into the cabin.
Thanks to its low centre of gravity and sharp steering it’s quite engaging to drive and we’ll get a better feel for its take on the twisties when we have it on test.
Thanks to its all round independent suspension it remains well-balanced and easily took care of road imperfections.
With lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control a stretch on the highway made for a pleasant and easy drive back to BMW HQ in Midrand.
Boot capacity comes in at 300 litres which expands to 1005 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded down.
Summary
It comes with a two-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with the battery covered for eight-years/100 000km and a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
With South Africans slowly becoming more comfortable with EVs it will be interesting to see how the Mini Aceman stacks up against the similarly priced Volvo EX30 Core Single Motor when the monthly sales are revealed.
Pricing
Mini Aceman E: R800, 000
Mini Aceman SE R892, 000