The all-electric MINI Aceman made a splash at its debut at the Beijing Motor Show this week. The eye-catching Rebel Red colored crossover is set to slot in between the new Cooper and Countryman models in MINI’s lineup, effectively replacing the discontinued Clubman. Of course, compared to the Clubman, the Aceman is an all-electric vehicle built on the same platform as the J01 Cooper electric. At 4.07 meters (160.2 inches) long, 1.75 meters (68.9 inches) wide, and 1.50 meters (59 inches) tall, the Aceman is predictably bigger than the electric hatchback. Two Electric Flavors The MINI Aceman wi ..read more

The MINI brand has expanded its lineup with the introduction of the MINI Aceman, unveiled today in Beijing. This new electric crossover, which shares its architecture with the Cooper electric, will initially be produced in China. Positioned between the Cooper and Countryman in size, the Aceman adopts a design similar to its siblings but with subtle differences. Positioned Between The MINI Cooper Electric and Countryman The Aceman is essentially a more practical, crossover version of the traditional hatchback. Measuring 4.07 meters (160.2 inches) in length, 1.75 meters (68.9 inches) in width ..read more

MINI gave us a taste of a small electric crossover in mid-2022 with the Concept Aceman. Fast forward a couple of years later, the production version is finally here. The subsequent road-going model (J05) is nearly identical, proposing a cheeky design in a sea of mundane SUVs. While it’s not as charismatic as the six-door Clubman it indirectly replaces, it manages to stand out despite the crowded segment. If you’re wondering why MINI isn’t launching a five-door version of the electric Cooper 3-Door (F66), it’s because it would clash with the Aceman. Essentially, the newcomer is a more practical ..read more

We’re less than 24 hours away from a double world premiere at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing. The BMW Group will be unveiling the production-ready MINI Aceman as well as the i4 facelift. Chances are we’ll also see the 4 Series Gran Coupe LCI to go along with its electric counterpart. In addition, Rolls-Royce is bringing three bespoke cars designed by its local studio in Shanghai. Why host these important debuts at Auto China instead of Europe or North America? Because China is the BMW Group’s largest market. Last year, it sold 826,300 cars in the country. The Aceman is going to be built in Chi ..read more

Enthusiasts of MINI will be excited about the upcoming Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, taking place from April 25 to May 4. At this event, held at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, MINI will unveil the latest iteration of their new family. The MINI Aceman will actually be unveiled the night before the auto show in an exclusive BMW Group event. But ahead of the official reveal, MINI is showcasing one more set of “spy photos.” Shot in Palm Springs, California, this MINI Aceman features the funky camouflage we’ve seen before on other MINIs, therefore hiding some o ..read more

Stellantis is expanding its crossover lineup with a new subcompact model for Alfa Romeo. The fabled Italian brand is reviving the “Milano” moniker, which was last used during the early 1990s for a compact sedan that rivaled the E30. The reboot is clearly not a 3 Series fighter, but rather a competitor to the upcoming MINI Aceman. The BMW Group’s small EV will break cover on April 24. The Milano is actually Alfa Romeo’s first EV, but unlike the electric-only Aceman, it’s going to be sold with combustion engines as well. It’s an attractive little crossover that measures just 4.17 meters (164.1 i ..read more

Most people are not buying small crossovers to line them up for a drag race, but plenty of automakers do sell high-performance versions. Such is the case with MINI and its not-so-mini 2025 Countryman in the John Cooper Works specification. BMW’s iX2 should also be quick off the line given its instant torque delivered by the pair of electric motors. The two BMW Group models fought in a series of drag and rolling races against two similarly sized vehicles from the Volkswagen Group: Audi SQ2 and the VW T-Roc R. One would expect the iX2 xDrive30 to have the best start of the four given its EV setu ..read more

While BMW and M managed to deliver more cars in the first quarter of the year compared to Q1 2023, it was the other way around for MINI and Rolls-Royce. The British brands part of the BMW Group suffered a sales decline through March. The Oxford-based marque was down by 9.4%, at 62,107 cars while shipments of ultra-luxury cars from Goodwood diminished by 7% to 1,525 units. Despite the setback, MINI still has a good chance to achieve strong results in 2024. We’re making this projection based on the fully refreshed model lineup. Aside from the new Countryman and its electric counterpart, the next ..read more

MINI is one of the brands that should have benefited the most from the electrification of the automobile. MINI vehicle’s compact dimensions and relatively lightweight are the perfect foil to the limitations early batteries had. While they were arguably a little late to the game – the MINI Cooper Electric debuted in 2020 – the original electrified MINI Cooper is still fun to drive and great for city commuting. It’s pretty affordable, too – we found an excellent, super-low mile 2021 MINI Cooper SE for under $20,000. Think it’s a good buy? We do. Overall Affordability Like all electric vehicles ..read more

The life of an automotive journalist is full of adventures. While it may not boast the highest salary, it’s undeniably abundant in experiences. Throughout the years, I’ve been privileged to experience extraordinary moments: navigating through Cartel territories flanked by technicals in a convoy, exhilarating sand laps at the Dakar Rally, tearing up F1 tracks, and even venturing to the North Pole as the first outsider to test drive BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen car. It’s a dream job, one that often leaves me feeling like I’m living in a pinch-me moment. And every time I think it can’t get better, life sur ..read more