MINI is in it’s transformative era. The entire automotive industry is in a transformative phase, but for the little John Copper works marquee, its bold strides are becoming more and more obvious. From greener production to electrification, the MINI Aceman is established as a blend of all the firm’s environmentally conscious initiatives into one cross-over concept.
The Aceman looks like a MINI, but it’s undeniably different and distinct compared to its family members. There is a clear indication that although MINI is now moving toward EVs, its signature go-kart feeling will not be lost, but rather adapted to MINI’s EVs.
It’s very flat. Unlike the SE or Countryman, the Aceman is flatter and more geometrically shaped giving its a greater presence and distinguishing the electric cross-over even more. Drawing much inspiration from the Countryman, the Aceman is shorter, slimmer and not quite as tall as the aforementioned model yet its urban-driven experience is heightened by the seamless transition between metal lower half and glass-window greenhouse.
An eye-catching front fascia design composed of a flat surfaced radiator grill illuminated by an LED surround with the Aceman name body slatted in the centre. The contour lighting on the grille is tastefully punctuated by a sharper and bolder headlight design, which allows the eye to fall across a muscular wheel arch housing 20-inch light alloy wheels.
The flank of the Aceman harkens to the appearance of the MINI Cooper SE, although the Aceman’s body lines seem more contoured and pronounced. Contrasting the stunning front end, the EV’s rear is surprisingly simplistic with only the taillights— which feature the iconic Union Jack emblem— serving as a notable break from the rear’s flat-faced design.
The interior echoes the geometrical and contoured appearance of the exterior. The interior is subtle, with the cockpit containing the bare minimum, drawing back to the design language of the 1959 MINI.
“In the interior of the MINI Concept Aceman, we have concentrated on a simplistic appearance in combination with premium materials and welcoming colours. Digitisation enables us to make do with few operating elements and at the same time to maximise the experience in a way that is characteristic of MINI,” —Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.
The Aceman will be on display at the 2022 Gamescom event in Cologne.