MINI Aceman Arrives in the U.S. for Hot Weather Testing, New EV Due Later This Year

We first saw it in concept form in mid-2022, with a funky study that was supposed to preview the brand's future design language. Little did we know it actually offered a glimpse into an upcoming product, as a few months later, we laid eyes on the first prototype that was captured in the open.

Fast-forward to the present day, and the MINI Aceman is driving on U.S. roads, presumably somewhere in Arizona judging by its license plates, for its hot weather testing phase. During this leg, the engineers focus on stuff such as the charging and cooling of the battery pack, air conditioning, and other aspects, which are being tested in temperatures up to 122F (50C) in the desert.

If the funky camouflage looks familiar, that's because we saw it on other Aceman prototypes last year. However, it's been thinned down on this tester, which reveals more of the front and rear end designs, showing the headlights and taillights, closed-off grille, large air intake below it, tailgate, beltline, and other aspects that we will clearly see when the car debuts.

But when is it due? According to the BMW Group-owned brand, that would be in a few months. The model will slot between the Cooper and Countryman in terms of size. It measures 160.4 inches (4,075 mm) from bumper to bumper, is 69.1 inches (1,754 mm) wide, and 58.9 inches (1,495 mm) tall. We do not know anything about the length of the wheelbase yet, but the vehicle, which is the company's third stand-alone EV, can accommodate five passengers.

MINI's upcoming Aceman will launch solely with electric power, as there will be no internal combustion engine options available. The automaker says the battery has a 54.2 kWh capacity, identical to the 2025 Cooper SE JCW electric hot hatch. The zero-emission hatchback uses a single electric motor that generates 215 hp (218 ps/160 kW) and 243 lb-ft (330 Nm) of torque, taking 6.7 seconds to 62 mph (100 kph) from naught. It has a WLTP-rated range of up to 250 miles (402 km), and it can be charged from 10 to 80& in less than half an hour.

Due to the slightly larger size, the MINI Aceman should travel a bit less between charging, and we have yet to learn what motor powers it and how quick it is. These details are probably being kept secret until the grand unveiling, which is scheduled for later this year. The MINI Aceman will likely go on sale in the United States of America as a 2025 model, and there's no reason to believe it won't be on sale in our market.