Ahead of its unveil next month, the new MINI Aceman has been leaked. The images come courtesy of Chinese authorities who published them on their Ministry of Industry and Information Technology website. This isn’t the first instance where the MIIT has imposed its regulations on a manufacturer, mandating that images of a car be submitted prior to its sale in China. At a first glance, the MINI Aceman is a “mini” Countryman, pun intended.
A “mini” MINI Countryman
The front-end features the same octagonal grille with a similar light design like the Countryman. There were two models leaked – a base and Aceman S – but not the John Cooper Works version which will be unveiled later this year. The second leaked Aceman shows a headlight design with a light bar running in the middle of the glass housing. The lower front fascia is different though from the Countryman SE featuring a less aggressive spoiler.
The rear lights of the vehicle showcase a distinctive layout, incorporating an unconventional arrangement of lights. Additionally, the design of the rear bumper distinguishes itself from that of the Countryman SE. From the side, the vehicle maintains dimensions that echo those of the previous Countryman, featuring a sleek roofline and a design that aligns with the classic MINI aesthetic. However, the bold and sturdy design characteristic of the Countryman will remain unique to that model. It appears that the introduction of the new MINI Aceman is intended to serve as a successor to the Clubman in the product range.
Lots of Color and Wheel Choices
The Chinese website also reveals a series of colors for the Aceman, including Nanuq White, Legend Grey, Blazing Blue, Smokey Green and Melting Silver III. The roof will also be offered in different colors. Additionally, there are no less than seven wheel choices. There are no photos of the interior design but we expect a similar layout and technology as in the Countryman. Of course, the trim and upholstery options will be similar as well.
Codenamed J05, the Aceman will go down in history as MINI s first EV-only model. The hot Aceman John Cooper Works is certainly going to pack more punch than the 218 hp and 330 Nm (243 lb-ft) expected from the Aceman SE. As for the base E, logic tells us it ll have 184 hp and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) to mirror the Cooper E hatchback. MINI has confirmed the Aceman will break cover on April 24, with sales to commence later this year. There are no plans to import the electric crossover to the United States from China. However, there is a chance it might land in North America in 2026 once production of the EV starts in Oxford.
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
