Mini Aceman is different on several fronts – Looking ahead

In 2022, Mini has a relatively clear model range. You have the three-door, the open version and the five-door. Next to it is the Clubman, of which it remains to be seen whether that station wagon will receive a successor. If you want to drive electrically, you can go for the Mini Electric and those who are looking for the higher up choose the Countryman. In the near future it will remain clear, but something will shift. The next three-door Mini will get reinforcements in the compact ranks, possibly at the expense of the five-door Mini and the Clubman. With the Aceman, Mini pushes forward a slightly higher alternative, for those who find the Countryman a size too big, but would like to have five doors. It is perhaps somewhat reminiscent of the not too successful Paceman from 2012, although the Aceman of the same name has two more doors.

Recognizably different

In short, a little brother for the Countryman, which is completely ‘Mini new style’. The concept car, the Concept Aceman, introduced a fresh design language for the brand, in which, among other things, the ‘grille’ is octagonal instead of hexagonal, the headlights are more pointed and the emphasis is by definition more on folds than on curves. Despite a somewhat different design course, there is unmistakably a Mini. Some typical Mini elements just return to the Aceman, such as the – albeit slightly differently arranged – ‘Union Jack taillights’ and the dark window styles.

Mini Aceman (Illustration: Larson)

The necessary ‘adventurous’ decoration is of course present, because a little crossover is indispensable. For example, the Aceman gets fairly angular plastic decoration around the wheel arch edges and at the bottom of the front and rear bumpers. Mini put a lot of emphasis on the roof rack when presenting the concept version, so it may find its way to the production model as an option. Our illustrator only presented the Aceman here without the roof rack. The Aceman promises to be quite minimalist inside. Count on a large round infotainment screen centrally on an otherwise pretty empty dashboard; below that is a small cluster with buttons for, among other things, the climate control. Undoubtedly, the interior can also be decorated beautifully in many contrasting colors and the upholstery is made of durable materials. Leather and chrome? You can probably search for that in vain.

Electric only

Almost every compact crossover is a potential sales hit, especially if there is a choice of fuel engines and an electric powertrain. For example, look at the Peugeot 2008. The Aceman, whose size is somewhat close to the 2008, keeps it more limited in options. It will soon be electric by definition. Which basis Mini applies for this is still a bit of coffee grounds, although there is talk of a new platform for the new three-door on which the Aceman may also stand. It is conceivable that he borrows technology from the next Countryman, who will also be fully electric on the market in addition to fuel engines. That Countryman is in turn a cousin of the BMW X1, and the electric iX1. Mini says it will come up with new models from 2023 and it will probably kick off with the new three-door. The new Countryman has also been spotted several times, so it may also come next year. The Aceman is following that, we expect to welcome it in 2024 at the earliest.