Mini Aceman is coming on April 24 with choice of 2 motors and 3 trims

Mini has only just completed the grueling extreme weather testing of the upcoming Aceman and now we know the debut date. The Aceman will be unveiled at the 18th Auto China show in Beijing on April 24. The funky crossover brings a lot of design ideas from the concept car we saw way back and promises decent performance, more room than the Cooper EV, and an attractive price.

Mechanically, the Aceman is a longer sibling of the Cooper. Both share the same Spotlight architecture with the Aceman stretching it by 7.6 inches. It may sound like not much but it is enough to squeeze in 5 passengers instead of Cooper’s 4. The Aceman is 0.91 inches wider and 5.1 inches taller, comfortably placing it in the crossover category.

There will be two power options - 184 hp and 218 hp (135 kW and 160 kW). The single electric motor will power the front wheels only in both versions just like it does in the new Cooper. The 0 to 62 mph sprint times will be identical as well - 7.3 seconds and 6.7 seconds respectively. Aceman will come in three trims, just like its smaller sibling - Classic, Exclusive, and Sport. The special JCW edition will be available at a later stage but it won’t come with any power upgrades.

The similarities between Aceman and Cooper don’t stop there. The newcomer will use the same two batteries with 40.7 kWh and 54.2 kWh (49.2 kWh) usable capacities. The range hasn’t been officially confirmed yet but we can expect fairly similar results - around 249 miles for the larger battery and around 186 miles for the smaller pack. The smaller battery will support up to 75 kW DC charging while the bigger one ups the game to 95 kW. Both can be AC charged at up to 11 kW.

On the inside, we’ll find 5 seats with relatively generous room for all occupants. The fabric dashboard we first saw in the concept vehicle is making its way to production cars and so is the large circular center screen. Mini is thankfully not giving up yet on mechanical switches and the classic row of toggles will take center stage just under the round screen. There will be no leather seats available, with eco-friendly fabrics and other materials now becoming the brand’s mark.

Initially, the new Aceman will be manufactured in China, with the first cars scheduled for deliveries by the end of this year. BMW is spending $741 million on upgrading the Oxford factory in the UK and the Aceman’s production will move there in 2026. When the new eventually goes on sale, it is expected to start from $39,500, making it quite an attractive choice - in many markets, it will be cheaper than similarly sized Jeep Avenger, Volvo EX30, or Smart #1.

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