MINI ACEMAN ELECTRIC HATCHBACK 160kW SE Classic [Level 2] 54kWh 5dr Auto

The top JCW version of MINI's electric Aceman might be an acquired taste. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

MINI's Aceman ups the ante in this top 258hp John Cooper Works form. If your small electric crossover needs a fiery vibe and you don't mind paying for the privilege, you might just like this one.

Background

Sixties rally engineer John Cooper could never have imagined a MINI quite like the Aceman John Cooper Works. Or have envisaged that it would hail not from Oxford but from China. And be powered not by tuned combustion but by a tuned electric motor. He'd also have been pretty shocked by the weight. Still, that's what we've got here in the fastest Aceman we're likely to see. It's based on the bigger-battery Aceman SE but power is upped from 218hp to 258hp from the single motor on offer. Plus there's a whole heap more visual attitude inside and out. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

As with the MINI John Cooper Works Electric hatch, this Aceman JCW has a 258hp electric motor, which in this case pushes the car to 62mph in 6.4s (half a second slower than its three-door stablemate but 0.7s quicker than a standard Aceman SE). Top speed is 124mph. It would go quicker of course if it didn't have to cart around so much powertrain weight. As with the Aceman SE, the bulk is down to a mid-mounted 54.2kWh battery pack (49.2kWh usable) which could give a range of 243 miles if you were to drive this car in the kind of manner a typical owner hardly ever would. The full 258hp output by the way (40hp more than an ordinary Aceman SE) along with 350Nm of torque, is only achievable for short periods via a selectable 'Electric Boost' function. Normal running sees the motor restricted to 227hp. Because power comes from just one front-mounted motor, that's some way short of dual motor rivals like the MG4 X-POWER or the smart #1 BRABUS. A closer match would be with other single motor hot hatch EV rivals like the CUPRA Born VZ or the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX. Neither of which will feel quite like this hot MINI does.

Design and Build

The reason most John Cooper Works MINI customers will be choosing this top Aceman will be to get the extra pair of rear doors that are missing on the ordinary MINI John Cooper Works hot hatch. But choosing an Aceman also means you get a cheeky crossover vibe thrown in too. MINI wants to ensure that this John Cooper Works model stands out, hence an exterior that builds on the design language of the standard model while showing a more aggressive appearance. The red, white, and black John Cooper Works logo - inspired by the chequered flag of motorsport - offers a nod to racing heritage, while gloss black trim is standard. Black side skirts, aero blades at C-pillar level and a rear spoiler optimise aerodynamics, while red vertical reflectors and diffusers contrast with the rear black apron. An aerodynamically optimised 19-inch wheel design in black with red accents is available exclusively for this all-electric model. Chili Red brake callipers sporting a white JCW logo and a Chili Red roof are standard, while a John Cooper Works specific multi-tone black to red roof is available optionally. The JCW tinsel continues on inside too, where there's plenty of red and black colouring, bespoke fabric for the sports seats and what MINI calls 'illuminated' headlining. The dashboard's upholstered in uniquely patterned red and black cloth and there's a grippy sports steering wheel with change paddles and a fabric strap. There's also bespoke trim for the doors. And extra JCW features for the 9.4-inch central touchscreen, including performance driving displays that include a G-Force meter and an accelerometer. Given that this Aceman is so much shorter than the next SUV up in MINI's range, the Countryman, there's a surprising amount of space in the back; a six foot passenger could sit behind a similarly tall driver. But that's because the designers have compromised a bit on boot space; there's just 300-litres of it (though that's 90-litres more than you'd get with this car's three-door MINI John Cooper Works Electric showroom stablemate). Fold the 60/40 rear bench and that extends to 1,005-litres. There's no under-bonnet 'frunk' space for the charging leads.

Market and Model

Prices from launch for the John Cooper Works Aceman started at £40,220 - compare to £38,420 for the three-door MINI John Cooper Works Electric. Or around £36,000 for a more standard Aceman SE. The Aceman John Cooper Works Electric comes as standard with 19-inch bespoke alloy wheels in black, Chili Red exterior paint and an aerodynamically shaped rear spoiler. This model receives MINI's Level 1 package as standard, which includes a Head-Up display, Wireless Charging, High Beam Assist, Heated Front Seats and Exterior Mirror Package. Plus there's an upgraded Harmon Kardon audio system.   There's lots of technology too. Thanks to 12 ultrasonic sensors and four Surround View cameras, the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman can identify vacant parking spaces with greater precision, automatically initiating parking manoeuvres where space is limited, while the Remote Parking function included as part of the Parking Assistant Plus option enables the vehicle to be parked using a smartphone. With MINI Digital Key Plus, owners can utilise their smartphone as a vehicle key for a convenient and personalised experience. Replacing the conventional key, the digital key can be transferred between several users. For a streamlined user experience, as soon as the driver is less than three metres away from the vehicle, the front and rear lights begin a welcome animation, and the doors unlock automatically. Using augmented reality, complicated turning situations are visualised on the central display as part of the optional MINI Navigation AR package, while additional steering and lane assistance is offered through Driving Assistant Plus.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the battery range figures in our 'Driving' section - 243 miles from this John Cooper Works Aceman variant's 54.2kWh battery. Which is 8 miles less than you'd get in a Mini John Cooper Works Electric (mainly due to this Aceman's larger 19-inch wheels). The standard Aceman SE this JCW model's based on manages up to 252 miles. Various tools help you maximise range: the 'Green' 'MINI Experience' mode - and a charge-optimised routing function for the navigation. Opting for this rangier SE variant gets you an increase in charging speed from 75kW to 95kW. Neither figure is particularly impressive, but at a rapid DC public charger, a 10 to 80% spell of replenishment can be completed in around 30 minutes. AC home charging as possible via the usual 7kW or 11kW wallbox options. You'll need five hours and 45 minutes to charge the SE model 0-100% with an 11kW wallbox. By using MINI Navigation, the vehicle will ensure the high-voltage battery reaches the ideal temperature for efficient charging in advance, thus reducing charging time. Customers can also optimise charging for their schedule, setting charging start times, active charging windows, and target battery capacity by departure time. Finally, drivers can instruct that the interior cabin is air conditioned by a set departure time. The 'My MINI' app provides a convenient overview of the vehicle status and charging process, including current battery status, charging-optimised route plan and charging history. What else? Well, residual values are bound to be strong - they always have been. You can expect your MINI JCW Aceman to have retained just over half its value at the three year / 60,000 mile point. As expected, there's the normal three year unlimited mileage warranty with the usual BMW-style variable service indicators. Beyond that, there's an optional extended 'MINI Insured' warranty available that can cover you for up to 100,000 miles and can also be specified to apply to particular components.

Summary

It's hard to imagine who is going to choose an Aceman John Cooper Works. For a start, you've got to be a real MINI fan to want one because the same money would get you more power and greater focus from similarly-sized fast EVs. The kind of MINI fan who's been forced to switch to electric and would ordinarily have chosen a MINI John Cooper Works Electric, but for the fact that that car has only three doors. The five-door Aceman John Cooper Works delivers the same fast EV MINI formula with more practicality - and with a dash of visual pizzazz. Which you're going to need to pay the kind of money being asked here.

Body Glass

Heated windscreen washer jets

Rear window wiper

Electric front+rear windows

Heated rear window

Rain sensor window wipers

Brakes

DSC - Dynamic Stability Control

Electronic parking brake

Traction control

Front and rear disc brakes

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats

Driver Aids

Electro-mechanical speed dependant steering assistance

Driving assistant

Parking assistant

MINI Experience Modes

Cruise control

Rear view camera

Driver Information

Emergency call service

Intelligent Personal Assistant

MINI operating system 9

Mini navigation system

Service interval indicator

Circular OLED Screen

On board computer

Driving Mirrors

Electric adjustable heated door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Black/Blue dashboard knit

Entertainment

Personal eSim

DAB Digital radio

Exterior Body Features

Rear side wing doors

Roof rails

Exterior Lights

LED rear lights

LED daytime running lights

Auto headlights

Third brake light

Adaptable light signature

LED indicator lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic air conditioning

Interior Features

Light headliner

Cupholders

Front compact armrest

Vescin/Cloth upholstery

Sport Vescin Steering Wheel

Heated steering wheel

Interior Lights

Ambient lighting

Safety

Acoustic pedestrian protection

Front ISOFIX (iSize)

3 point seatbelts on all seats

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Child locks on rear doors

Front passenger airbag deactivation

6 Airbags - front, side, head and seat belt tensioners

Seats

Height adjustable passenger seat

Single front passenger seat

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Front and rear head restraints

60/40 rear seat bench

Security

Alarm

Immobiliser

Remote central locking

Transmission

Automatic transmission

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with vanity mirrors

Vehicle Charging

DC Rapid charging

11kW AC charging

Mode 3 cable

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 1725

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 540

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 330

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 31

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 95

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 54.2

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Low: 512

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Medium: 497

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - High: 444

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Extra High: 313

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City: 501

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 399

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 407

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 383

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Low: 11.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Medium: 11.3

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - High: 12.7

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Extra High: 18.3

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City: 11.3

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 14.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 13.9

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 14.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City: 5.5

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 4.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 4.2

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 4.5

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Extra High: 3.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - High: 4.9

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Low: 5.6

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Medium: 5.5

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Extra High: 194.5

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City: 311.3

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 247.9

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 238

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 252

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - High: 275.9

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Low: 318.1

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Medium: 308.8

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: N

Charging Port Location: Right Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: 49.2

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 95

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: HC0002N0

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: SE Classic Level 2

Coin Description: 54kWh

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 23E

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Badge Power: 218

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 7.1

Top Speed: 105

Engine Power - BHP: 218

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 160

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 243

Engine Torque - NM: 330

Engine Torque - MKG: 33.7

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 205/55 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 205/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: X SPOKE

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4079

Width: 1754

Wheelbase: 2606

Width (including mirrors): 1991

Height: 1514

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1710

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2235

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 750

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 525

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 300

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1005

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.1

Exterior Body Features

Special metallic paint

Body colour roof

Roof and Mirror caps in Glazed White

Packs

Level 2 pack incl. Towbar - Mini Aceman

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Melting silver lll

Paint - Special

Special Metallic - Midnight black ll

Special Metallic - Nanuq White

Trim - Part Leather

Vescin/Cloth - Grey/Blue

Vescin/Cloth - Black/Blue

Wheels - Alloy

18" Night flash spoke grey dark metallic spectre alloy wheels