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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.
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Detailed ratings
Compact Full Electric Cars
Driving experience
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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