Latest news with #Paceman
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The 2025 Mini Aceman John Cooper Works
2025 Mini Aceman JCW I believe in the saying: 'Life's too short to drive boring cars'. After passing my driving test, I made a beeline for a Daihatsu Copen, a tiny two-seater that looks like a Croc sandal. I didn't care that people laughed as I tootled past with the roof down, my head poking out like a protruding toe through a worn-out sock. I was driving something special. A few years ago, I bought a Mini Paceman Cooper S, also known as the Countryman's ugly sister. It's good, but when I heard Mini was dropping the 'P' with its new model, my intrigue spiked. I never tested the Mini Aceman. But I, of course, said yes when Mini asked if I fancied a go in its lightly spiced John Cooper Works (JCW) guise. It doesn't take me long to become smitten with odd cars; it's usually love at first sight. Was that the case with the Mini Aceman JCW? I'm not sure, but hear me out. I like its startled face: its gawking eye-like headlights and its large mouth-esque plastic 'grille'—it's almost like it's seen John Cooper's ghost. But it didn't quite make me tingle the same way as the first JCW Countryman did. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW From the side and rear, the Aceman JCW follows the Countryman's design cues but is smaller in size, and this got me, and many others, asking a question: Who's it for? The answer is simple: like Mini's, but don't like the idea of cramming bags of shopping and a Great Dane in the boot of a three-door Cooper hatch? The Aceman's the one for you. Of course, you can opt for the larger Countryman with its 505-litre boot, but it's a bit more cumbersome. The Aceman JCW shares a very similar interior with the JCW Electric three-door, but it has a loftier roofline. The pin-sharp touchscreen is filled with quirky animations and features, including a selfie camera. Entry-level Minis are usually fun, but if you want to take pleasure to the next level, you'd usually opt for a Cooper S or the ASBO-inducing John Cooper Works (JCW). The latter's usually powered by potent and burbly engines that aid the Mini's already naughty character, but that's recently changed. You can still buy ICE versions, but Mini's upped its EV game, giving buyers a broader choice. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW The Mini Aceman JCW shares its 254bhp motor and 54.2kWh battery with its low-slung three-door JCW sibling. This means a 242-mile combined (WLTP) range, 0-to-62 mph in 6.4 seconds and a 124mph top speed, but there's a catch. To get all 254 bhp, you pull back on an aptly named 'boost' paddle behind the steering wheel, which gives you 10 seconds of hair-on-fire mid-range madness. Straight-line pace isn't enough for a JCW, many cars at the same price point can achieve those acceleration figures, instead, JCW's were always praised for their tight chassis and snappy brakes. But the Aceman variant has been left in the oven that little bit too long: its chassis is just too firm. A Porsche 911 GT3 almost feels Rolls-Royce-like in comparison. The Aceman JCW is a compact electric SUV, and it should be able to traverse crumbling urban roads at 30 mph without bouncing its occupants through the sunroof. I noticed a slight improvement as speed increased, but I was always of the car fidgeting beneath me. Likewise, it doesn't like mid-corner bumps. Hitting these throws the car off course and largely dampens the fun factor. 2025 Mini Aceman JCW interior Finding smooth tarmac drastically changes the Aceman JCW's behaviour. Its steering is tight and precise, and throwing its 1,800kg around bends is heaps of fun thanks to its grippy tyres. This, combined with snappy brakes, means it can be amusing. Regarding range, my test car averaged 3.5mi/kWh over motorways, dual carriageways and country roads. Realistically, the Aceman JCW should return circa 180 miles in warmer weather over potholed roads and roughly 190 on slower routes. Mini's injected the Aceman JCW with its zesty spirit. It's like a four-wheeled carnival; you'll never get bored of touching or looking at it. The Mini Aceman JCW also boasts great efficiency and has a decent range, and enough interior space, but it's simply too firm for most roads. Follow me on Instagram.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Taming the 'Beasts of Britain'
THE iconic MINI we see on our roads today are more expansive and stylised than the original 'tiny' car originally owned by British Motor Corp. British Motor later merged with Leyland Motor Corp in 1968 to become British Leyland. The latter subsequently became the Rover Group, which owned Rover, MINi, Land Rover and MG. BMW took control of the Rover Group and MINI in 1994. By the turn of the millennium, Rover was still suffering huge losses, so BMW decided to get rid of most of the companies - MG and Rover went to Phoenix and Land Rover was sold to Ford. But BMW kept the MINI and since the past 20 years, the vehicle has been produced in a variety of versions. They include the hatch, cabrio, Clubman, Paceman, coupe and roadster, as well as a limited edition all-electric model. Enough about some history lesson and let's move to the present day in Malaysia. On Friday, MINI Malaysia brought the legacy of heritage and bold expression to life with the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Track Day 2025 at Gamuda Cove. Designed for MINIacs and driving enthusiasts alike, the track day offered a showcase of the latest additions to the new MINI family, delivering adrenaline-fuelled driving experiences that embody MINI's hallmark racing DNA. At the core of the track day was a tribute to the spirit of John Cooper – the visionary who transformed a humble compact car into a motorsport icon. The track day featured the latest performance-driven models, including the new MINI JCW, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works Aceman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. These latest additions to the new MINI family combine bold innovation with MINI's racing DNA, offering purist design, electrifying performance and go-kart-like handling that reimagine the brand's legacy for a new generation. Across two dedicated zones, participants had the opportunity to test the limits of MINI's most thrilling models. The 3.4-kilometre JCW Drive Zone was built for high-speed sprints and cornering. The JCW Track Zone, meanwhile, was inspired by the legendary Kartdromo Parma circuit in Italy. The circuit is known for its tight corners and technical complexity, challenges drivers with a layout designed to push traction, control, and braking precision under pressure. Whether it is the classic MINI JCW or the fully electric MINI JCW Aceman, each model was put to the test where they can truly stand out, on the track. MINI Malaysia urged participants to unleash their "Beast Mode"' although we felt the real beasst here were the many MINIs available for test and it was up to us to tame them. At the end of the test, participants were presented with a track bred certificate to signify that our "powerful performance has made its mark on the track". Also on display at the track day were the MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper 5 Door, all-electric MINI Cooper, new MINI convertible, MINI Countryman, all-electric MINI Countryman and all-electric MINI Aceman, which were featured in two distinct editions. The all-electric MINI Aceman Track Edition features exclusive race livery on the hood, sides and rear of the vehicle and a MINI floating hub cap. This all-electric MINI Aceman Slick Edition features silver livery across the hood, sides and rear, and is also adorned with the signature floating hub cap, completing a showcase of sheer driving excitement and design individuality.
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Review: The Mini Aceman is a crossover with plenty of character
The all-electric Mini Aceman has style, agility and personality, but how does it drive and how far will its battery take you? Mini has long been an icon of unconventional design and spirited engineering in an industry driven by conformity. Over the years, it's given us everything from the delightfully odd Paceman to the quirky Roadster. These Mini misfits may be gone, but their spirit lives on and this week, we are testing the latest addition to the range — the Aceman, a fresh-faced crossover with all the cheekiness Mini does best.
