MINI Aceman completing real-world testing in desert

The modern MINI range under the BMW Group reached up to 7 models at one time but gradually diminished as numbers for certain models were not to expectations and they were discontinued. For the new MINI family which was introduced in September last year, the range has started off with two models – the Cooper and Countryman – but that’s not going to be all.

Between Cooper and Countryman
In a few months, there will be a third stand-alone model in the new all-electric range. This is the Aceman, a crossover which will slot in between the Cooper and Countryman. With a length of 4075 mm, width of 1754 mm and height of 1495 mm, the Aceman will offer a smaller alternative to the Countryman.

The 4-door 2-box body typical of MINIs will be available only with a fully electric powertrain using a 54.2 kWh battery pack.

From Arctic to desert
As with every new vehicle program, there is a phase of real-world testing which Aceman prototypes have to undergo to identify issues and validate systems. Testing in extreme cold conditions in the Arctic region has been completed and now the engineers are completing final testing in the desert in Arizona, USA.

The test team is focusing on the effects of strong sunlight and heat on an electric vehicle. For this purpose, the air conditioning, charging and cooling of the battery, drive and control devices are intensively tested in the region where temperatures can go up to 50° C. on sandy tracks.

Growing sales of electric models
Fully electric vehicles made up 15.3% (45,261 units) of global MINI sales in 2023, a 3.5% increase over the previous year. “2023 was an exceptional year for MINI, “said Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI. “The accelerated adoption of our fully-electric vehicles underscores our collective dedication to shaping a successful future. With our all-new MINI Family, we’re excited to continue setting new standards in driving experience while advancing our commitment to more CO₂ reduction.”

Fully electric MINI Countryman ALL4 now available