The F66 MINI Cooper and U25 MINI Countryman won’t have shift paddles as standard. Depending how they’re optioned, even some Cooper S and Countryman S won’t have them. And without a traditional gear lever there’s seemingly no way to manually control gears. However we’ve uncovered a secret mode that fully enables manual control even without shift paddles. The lack of shift paddle will be a big issues for many buying a Cooper or Countryman as a sporty car. While they will be available on JCW models and reportedly on some configurations of the S models, many F66 and U25 will be without them. Lucki ..read more

As with all new MINIs, the Aceman will offer the choice of four trims which group design elements into a single cohesive look. But understanding these difference trims will be essential in understanding how to spec and order a MINI Aceman. MINI’s Trim concepts are the same on the Aceman as they are on the new Cooper and Countryman. However the Aceman has a few unique aspects that tie in with the overall design aesthetic. Let’s take a look. Essential Trim The Essential Trim the standard trim level and features a simple, somewhat basic look. • Limited selection of body colors • Roof in ..read more

If you want a new MINI and like the wind in your hair you’ll need to get a petrol MINI Cooper or a Countryman. MINI has eliminated the retractable sunroof on new Cooper and Aceman electric models moving to a fixed, single pane of glass. But it’s not all bad. There are a few good reasons MINI went this route and even a few benefits. Why has MINI chosen to eliminate the ability to open the expansive glass sunroof? Several factors likely play a role. For one, having a sunroof that opens increases drag and reduces range. It’s also not the worst idea to take the small electric motor out of the roof ..read more

If you want a new MINI and like the wind in your hair you’ll need to get a combustion model. MINI has eliminated the retractable sunroof on all new electric model moving to a fixed, single pane of glass. But it’s not all bad. There’s are a few good reasons MINI went this route and even a few benefits? Why has MINI chosen to eliminate the ability to open the expansive glass sunroof? Several factors likely play a role. For one having a sunroof that opens reduces drag and would also reduce range. It’s also not the worst idea to take the small electric motor out of the roof and simplifying the des ..read more

As with all new MINIs, the Aceman will offer the choice of four trims which group design elements into a single cohesive look. But understanding these difference trims will be essential in understanding how to spec and order a MINI Aceman. MINI’s Trim concepts are the same on the Aceman as they are on the new Cooper and Countryman. However the Aceman has a few unique aspects that tie in with the overall design aesthetic. Let’s take a look. Essential Trim The Essential Trim the standard trim level and features a simple, somewhat basic look. • Limited selection of body colors • Roof in ..read more

MINI is putting a lot of energy into the Aceman launch. But What are the plans to bring it to the US? And if it does, when could we see it at dealers? We posed these questions to a few of our sources and got some interesting answers. Based on what we hear, MINI believes that the Aceman has a chance to be the biggest seller in the range within a few years. But first they have to get it on sale in all key markets. Of course that was the original intent. But first cost and then global politics got in the way. Designing and engineering cars for global markets is incredible expensive – especially f ..read more

Designing an all new model for a storied brand like MINI is not an easy task. The history and expectations are sometimes at odds with the need for innovation. As part of the Aceman launch, Head of Design Oliver Heilmer sat down to talk about the process and how he and his team took the Aceman from sketch to production. Question: Mr. Heilmer, when you joined MINI in 2017 – how did you develop a vision to lead the models into the future? Oliver Heilmer: Given that MINI is a very traditional brand, the question was: How do you transform such a brand into the future? To answer this, we had to go b ..read more

With MINI’s strategy to go all electric 2030, fans have been wondering what that will mean for the performance oriented JCW brand. While we’re still months away from the official debut, today we’re getting a peek at the MINI Aceman JCW along with some exclusive performance and release details. Because MINI is offering the full JCW body kit wheels and even badging on the JCW Trim in Europe and the UK (under the name Sport), we’re being treated with a full view of what the Aceman JCW will look like. How do we know? For one MINI has followed this formula in the past. But beyond that we have our o ..read more

The Aceman the first all new model from MINI since the original Countryman in 2010. So to say this is just another new car launch for MINI is a huge understatement. But What does the Aceman look like in the flesh and how does it compare with the rest of the line-up? We’ve got the first ever video and our best view yet of MINI’s all new model. https://youtu.be/JggI-Dt4oKg The MINI Aceman crossover is actually based on the smaller J01 MINI Cooper EV. In fact it’s so heavily connected to that car that it will share all of its drivetrain including its electric motor, battery pack and electronics ..read more

It’s been almost 15 years since MINI introduced an all new model making the Aceman a big deal for the brand. But Can this small crossover live up to the huge expectations? And when (if ever) will we see it in North America? Read on for answers. The electric MINI Aceman might be the brand’s most successful car for this generation of MINIs. That’s what the company’s executives have been saying quietly to the press over the last year. They believe it will be the sweet spot in the range for many people due to its size, price performance and design. But can the Aceman really live up to the hype? An ..read more