Fresh and funky models like the Aceman SE prove MINI is in the enviable position to experiment with its fans’ affections.
Copenhagen, Denmark - This author is seasoned (although some just call me old) enough to recall discontinued models like the Coupe (and Roadster), Paceman and more recently, the Clubman (with its super-cool “barn-door” tailgate), in the modern MINI brand’s line-up.
MINI is one of the rare car brands that is given dispensation to experiment with niches and segments by virtue of its funky credentials.
ICYMI, folks either want a MINI, or they don't.
See also: Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Drive Review : Minimalist Cheek
Like many of the great automotive archetypes such as Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, this young, upbeat and trendy brand doesn't have any real rivals.
This means that if you're cross-comparing price and specs with more mundane car brands, you're probably not MINI material to begin with.
See also: Cupra Tavascan VZ Drive Review : Rebel Rouser
As quickly as a model like the eccentric Clubman is discontinued, the brand just as quickly introduces the world to the Aceman.
The Aceman is a compact, electric-only front-drive, five-door crossover designed around the “Charismatic Simplicity” philosophy. (Indigo Sunset Blue pictured above demonstrates Aceman's luggage-loading ability)
Sitting between the Cooper and Countryman, the Aceman isn’t a direct successor to the Clubman cult fave, we’re told, but happens to be a new model introduced at a time the Clubman is discontinued.
In fact, the Aceman’s athletic, sharply-styled crossover shape is intended to tap into the current demand for such body-types, but executed in MINI’s inimitable fun and funky style.
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And that’s the cool thing about the MINI brand. Folks can totally accept that the comings and goings of the eclectic niche models follow the winds of fashion.
We really enjoyed the Countryman SE, which is one of the featured cars in our “2024 : The Year in Cars” supplement. It doesn’t just have the space and a perky pace, but also a jubilant sense of celebration that accompanies each drive.
A lot of the fun in immersing yourself in an electric MINI like the Countryman SE has found its way into the Aceman.
We’re not just talking about driving fun either, because the entire interactive experience is on-point for the brand.
Don’t kick the kitsch, suspend your cynicism and let yourself enjoy the digital MINI’s emotional experience.
Like the Countryman SE, the minimalist-chic cabin of the Aceman SE features stylishly textured surfaces and subtle details, with the dashboard dominated by a circular, 240mm OLED touchscreen.
The Aceman SE measures-in at 4.07m x 1.75m x 1.5m (LxBxH) and features a 2.6m wheelbase.
Thanks to how its body is pushed-out to all four corners (in familiar MINI fashion), interior accommodation is nothing to sniff at.
The comfortably-appointed cabin will accommodate up to five adults, while the boot’s 300-litres capacity can be expanded to 1005-litres with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats tumbled flat.
Like with the Countryman, we really enjoyed the vibe of the Aceman experience, also because it’s possible to pick a mood (from eight presets and a Personal Mode that can be customised) for the car that suits yours.
With modern cars, the user interface / experience is as big a part of the motoring experience as the actual driving.
The MINI OS9 is intuitive to use, both by touch and voice, with the MINI Interaction Unit operated in the same way as a smartphone, so it should be familiar ground for most owners.
The MINI Experience Mode features two projector units that beam illuminated graphics with differing patterns and colours onto the dashboard.
The colour scheme of the light patterns and ambient lighting in the entire cabin are varied depending on the Mode selected.
At the same time, specific animation displayed on the OLED and MINI Driving Sounds help enhance the all-electric driving experience. For instance, selecting Go-Kart Mode elicits a cheery round of applause from the car.
The electronica soundtrack contains a myriad of tonal nuances, from grumble-rousing at partial throttle that culminates in a rapturous overture under full acceleration.
With 218hp and 330Nm from its 54.2kWh battery, the front-drive Aceman SE has just enough power to be entertaining, which stays true to classic Mini form.
There's also a lower-powered Aceman E at approximately S$20k less, which produces 184hp and 290Nm from a 42.5kWh battery.
With the Aceman SE, a large part of the driving engagement is in contemplating how much power you can apply before the front tyres start scrambling for traction, especially on the damp surfaces we were traversing.
The Aceman SE is a nippy, zippy performer that isn’t afraid to venture off the comfortable straights, and onto the curvy.
There’s certainly enough pep to the Rebel Red Aceman SE to have you hunt out long and winding roads, just so you can give both driver and car a rewarding work-out.
Many electrified cars these days have become too heavy and/or too powerful.
I’ve always felt that driving a slow car fast on the road is more rewarding than driving a powerful car, simply because it lets you push the car’s handling envelope closer to its limits.
And this is exactly the sort of ethos that today's MINI brand has blossomed from.
And we can certainly appreciate the Aceman SE’s cheeky pertness, which recalls the naughty thrills dished-out by its predecessors.
Everything is relative, especially weight, and it’s staggering that 1.7-tonnes is considered light in today’s context, but it is what it is – at least the Aceman's relatively compact size makes it a doddle to manoeuvre within the city confines.
The 400km WLTP range is a good number to play with between charge-ups, especially if it will serve city-commuting duties in Singapore.
Folks who find the Cooper too small and the Countryman too big will appreciate this Ace up MINI’s sleeves, because it could be the sweet spot of the range for them to lose their hearts to… and this would have made the brand’s experiment worthwhile.
MINI ACEMAN SE
Battery 54.2kWh (Gross), 400V
Power 218hp
Maximum Torque 330Nm
0–100km/h 7.1secs
Top Speed 170km/h
WLTP range (combined) up to 405km
Kerbweight est. 1.7-tonnes
Price from S$230k
