2024 Beijing Auto Show: MINI Aceman debuts, classic elements integrated into pure electric SUV

On April 24th, MINI officially launched the first 5-seat Crossover in its compay - the all-new electric MINI Aceman. The new car adopts a distinctive design language, and the internal and external designs retain MINI classic elements while injecting more digitized technology. In terms of power, the MINI Aceman is equipped with a 54.2kwh battery. The motor has a maximum output power of 160kw, and the CLTC endurance reaches 450km.

All-new crossover design / Retaining the “four-wheel four-corner” MINI style

Compared with other MINI models, the all-new styling of MINI Aceman has a compact crossover design, yet it's still a “recognizable at a glance” classic MINI design that fulled of MINI style. The new car combines the characteristics of MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman. In terms of body size, it fills the gap between these two models, which reaches 4076x1754x1515 mm, with a wheelbase of 2606 mm. Inside, it can normally accommodate 5 passengers to ensure the flexibility and mobility of urban travel.

The eye-catching new front face is quite simple and clear, with a clear octagonal grille and hexagonal LED headlights, making the new model very expressive. At the same time, its proportion and cute, fun style can allow people to recognize this as a car from the MINI family from a distance.

Despite being a new member of the MINI family, Aceman continues to retain the "four wheels four corners" engineering design of MINI, and is even more extreme in the pure electric structure, making the body more solid. Many classic MINI elements are also retained, for example, the mechanical-type external door handle is semi-hidden to reduce wind resistance, and the conspicuous checkerboard elements in the vertical taillights can easily identify the family identity.

In the MINI three-section body, the seamless transition between the window and the body optimizes the aerodynamic characteristics. The designer also adopted strong body contour and smooth edge lines on the new car, which shows the unique flexibility and confidence of MINI.

"Mini simplicity" style interior/ use more environmentally friendly fabric materials

The MINI Aceman continues the "mini simplicity" design style on the latest generation of MINI models. The interior deliberately reduces redundant decorations and follows the "practicality first" principle that MINI has applied since its birth.  It also retains three key design elements in tribute to the classic Mini model, namely the new steering wheel that is easier to operate, a unique round OLED central control screen, and a modified 5-section toggle, as if connecting the history of MINI to the new model.

The entire cabin is more spacious. The fully implemented "two-eight principle" makes the space utilization better, and the ample shoulder and leg space provides better comfort. The panoramic sunroof also provides ample light, making the entire cabin bright and open.

MINI has extensively used recycled materials and fabric in the car. It totally abandons the use of leather, and the dual-color fabrics that envelop the cockpit are all made of recycled polyester fiber, including the curved dashboard, doors, etc. The seat surface is made of fabric or perforated Vescin faux leather. The pattern is exquisite and tactile, which is not only environmentally friendly but also creates a warm and luxurious atmosphere in the car.

The flexible trunk capacity can be adjusted from 300 liters to 1,005 liters, which fulfills a more diverse loading demand.

The MINI Aceman continues the unique round OLED central control screen with a diameter of 240 mm. The MINI interaction system based on the round screen is more distinctive. The new MINI operating system has a unique MINI user interaction interface and applications, which is processed in a similar way as smartphones and exhibits a distinct MINI style, such as sliding and switching round widgets, the crisscross flag-shaped air outlet touch, and so forth. All interactive interfaces and application programs are highly compatible with the round screen, including the round navigation map that is easier for the brain to comprehend, the very MINI round air conditioning touch control area, and so forth, making the operation seems more realistic and more intuitive.

Moreover, to let users experience more gameplay, the infotainment system of the MINI Aceman also includes 8 kinds of "MINI experience modes", each of which is ingenious. For example: in the "karting mode", the driving sound effect is like a high-rising power output sound wave, and the car will tune the power and chassis status to be more inclined to race track style. The "nostalgic mode" blends the power sound effects from the classic Mini in 1959 to the most aggressive MINI John Cooper Works GP, and the stronger the driver accelerates, the more the sound leans from past internal combustion engines to current pure electricity. By the time it gets to the "energy-saving mode", the small hummingbird on the round screen indicates the car's precise control of extremely low power consumption and uses a light strip like a game to remind the driver of the energy-saving level of control, which adds fun to travel. The new electric MINI Aceman also enjoys an off-road style "nomadic mode", making the vehicle showcase a hard-core style. Projector technology is also carefully matched with each mode to project a variety of styles of light and shadow on the front console, door panels, and both sides of the sunroof.

The infotainment system also embeds a digital companion - the cute pet SPIKE. As an intelligent personal voice assistant, it has 6 kinds of vivid emotional expressions, and it can stay on standby for a longer time without frequent waking up. With the switching of experience modes, SPIKE will also change 8 skins, and change moods with the user.

54.2kwh battery/CLTC endurance up to 450km

The official stated that on the MINI Aceman, the steering system has been significantly improved again, and with more noticeable support response, both driving and riding comfort have further improved. The ARB anti-skid stability controller makes the traction in cornering more precise, and the vehicle cornering is more agile and stable. The unique freewheeling function of electric driving further reduces the burden on the driver and makes energy use more efficient.

In terms of power reserve, the new model uses a battery with a capacity of 54.2kwh, and the longest range of CLTC can reach 450km. The maximum output power of the motor can reach 160 kw, and generate a maximum torque of 330N·m to enable the vehicle to accelerate from zero to hundred in 7.3 seconds. At the fast charging station, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in 31 minutes.

Editor's Comment

In the era of electrification and intelligence, the MINI brand which has carried half a century of classic cultural stories is not self-sealed but makes good use of its trendy elements to turn it into a more interesting gameplay injected into the new electric MINI Aceman. In addition to this youngest member of the company, MINI will also bring the new generation of MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman to this Beijing Auto Show. With the release of the new MINI family, the MINI brand is entering a new dimension.