Whizzy compact arriving within last three months of 2024 (updated story).

ACEMAN, the electric compact that will slot between the new three-door Cooper hatchback and the Countryman SUV in MINI’s range, has finally been unveiled in its birthplace, China.

The new model has unveiled at a motor show in Beijing and BMW/MINI New Zealand’s plan, which was under embargo until 9am on April 26, is to have it here in the final quarter of this year. Local pricing and specification details are to follow in due course.

Aceman will initially be built in China on a new platform developed by the Spotlight Automotive joint venture between BMW and China's Great Wall, but from 2026 will also be produced in the United Kingdom. The car was designed alongside the new Cooper full-electric hatchback, which is also built only in China.

Aceman comes with a choice of two different powertrains. There’s the basic E version, which comes with a 42.5kWh battery pack and an 137kW electric motor driving the front wheels, allowing the car to cover 308km on a single charge under WLTP test conditions. And when the battery is depleted, it’ll charge at a maximum speed of 75kW from a suitable DC charge point.

The Aceman car can also be specified in SE form, with a 162kW electric motor and a 54.2kWh battery. That extra capacity officially increases the range available to 405km, while the more powerful electric motor increases performance slightly.

Where the E gets from 0-100kmh in 7.9 seconds, the SE cuts that to 7.1 seconds. The bigger battery also offers faster charging at speeds of up to 95kW, which means the car can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in less than half an hour.

MINI is promising the Aceman will continue to offer the “go-kart” driving sensations expected from MINI’s smaller models, with suspension and steering specifically tuned for agility. MINI has also promised a rapid accelerator response from the electric motors, and a sporty, firm feel through the brake pedal.

MINI has also confirmed a range of driving modes that adjust the suspension set-up, as well as the steering response and the way in which the traction control intervenes.

With styling that largely stays true to a same-name concept that Mini showed off in Europe two years ago, the Aceman also borrows cues from existing products, most obviously Countryman.

It has the same LED daytime running lights as the latter, and they also communicate distinctively shaped body cladding around the wheel arches, lower bumpers and door sills. Both cars also feature rhombus-shaped headlights, black A- and B-pillars to create a floating-roof effect, and almost completely vertical front ends.

How your Aceman ultimately shapes up depends on does depend on the chosen trim level. There are three: Classic, Exclusive and Sport. All get their own exterior treatments and colour combinations.

The interior is as per other new Minis; so a clean and uncluttered cabin with a fabric-upholstered dashboard and a central touchscreen infotainment system. A two-spoke steering wheel is fitted as standard, while the 240mm circular screen handles everything from speedometer and trip computer displays to audio and climate controls.

The screen uses MINI’s latest software technology to provide various displays, including an individual mode that allows customers to apply an image as a background, like the wallpaper on a smartphone.

The Aceman is just over four metres’ long and 1.75m wide, so will get seating for five, with the company promising an “amply sized rear” passenger space for three. There’s 300 litres of boot space, rising to 1005 litres to play with when the 60:40-split rear seats are folded down.

“The MINI Aceman brings a new level of excitement to our all-electric lineup, packed with a truly enjoyable immersive digital experience,” says Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.

“The MINI Aceman is perfect for navigating crowded city streets, while maintaining the versatility and functionality of a Crossover and the Go Kart feeling you can expect from a MINI.

“I am certain that the sleek design, the performance, and the versatility as a five-seater Crossover, will make the MINI Aceman a resounding success.”

“The MINI Aceman is a strong character with his own young personality within the new MINI family,” added Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.

“It has an independent design language, is compact and looks agile. With its distinctive expression, it is the perfect everyday companion for those who value individuality in urban areas.”