‘The most fun I've had while driving': three MINI lovers on the new electric Aceman
'Growing up, MINIs always felt iconically British to me,' says Dean Blackstock from his home in East Peckham, Kent. 'As well as seeing them in films like The Italian Job, my mum owned a little black MINI, so I just knew I'd eventually own one myself.'
Three years ago, Blackstock's MINI ambitions came to fruition when he bought a sleek silver MINI Clubman Cooper S. 'It's fun and nippy, but also big enough to ferry my three children to school and to do the family shop,' says Blackstock, 44. 'It's nice to be part of the MINI community – whenever I see another Clubman I always give the driver a little nod of recognition.'
Like most MINI fans, chiropractor Blackstock keeps an eye on upcoming iterations of his beloved car, and he's had his interest piqued by the new, all-electric MINI Aceman.
'As a father who cares about his kids' future, the electric element really appeals to me,' he says. 'The design of the Aceman is very striking, and having five doors and plenty of room is also a bonus, especially if you have a family.'
With the MINI Aceman already on his radar, Blackstock jumped at the chance to take delivery of a model for a week, so he could see what it could do.
'I was looking forward to seeing how it would handle and fit into family life, and it definitely delivered,' he says. 'It was super-comfortable, super-quiet, and the most fun I've ever had while driving.
'The Aceman has a lovely minimalistic design, and we all loved the panoramic sunroof. There's an almost sci-fi-type sound when you accelerate, so every time I put my foot down I couldn't help smiling. I also noticed some heads turning when I did the school run – it has that element of quirky uniqueness you want from a MINI.'
'We all loved the panoramic sunroof,' says Blackstock
As well as enjoying the Aceman's design features – including a statement steering wheel, octagonal grill and angular contours – Blackstock experimented with some of the optional features, including music and video streaming, in-car gaming and Spike, the MINI's new digital assistant.
'Spike is a cute dog animation that functions as your personal assistant and appears on the OLED display,' he says. 'You can connect your phone to the car, say, 'Hey, MINI,' and ask Spike to do things like play music, turn on the radio or send a message, all hands-free.
'The kids particularly liked the games you can play when the car is parked up. As well as being all-electric, the Aceman has really embraced technology to make it a better drive.'
Blackstock was equally impressed by the MINI Aceman's charging capacity. 'I put it on charge before popping into the supermarket, and when I came out it was borderline fully charged,' he says. 'With places like supermarkets jumping on board with EV charging, it's very convenient when you're out and about.'
Having spent a week with the Aceman, Blackstock is now a firm fan of its charms – and he's not the only MINI owner excited about this new way to MINI.
'I'd always envisioned eventually upgrading to a MINI Countryman, but now the new Aceman is here, I'm reassessing,' says Jesse Edwards, 27. Having owned a MINI One for seven years, he recently traded it for a new orange MINI Cooper Sport.
'I drove my first MINI over 60 miles a day, five to six times a week, and it never let me down,' says Edwards, who is from Ebbw Vale in south Wales. 'I've always found MINIs to be incredibly reliable, but their iconic design is a huge part of the appeal, too.
'I believe everyone goes through a MINI obsession at some point in their life, and I fully intend to keep driving one until the day I hang up my keys, so the Aceman is definitely one to consider. Being all-electric, it aligns with my aim to be more environmentally conscious, and I'm particularly drawn to the use of recycled materials in the interior. It feels like a step towards responsible indulgence.'
Jesse Edwards
The Aceman certainly ticks all the boxes for young, eco-conscious drivers such as Edwards. Hitting the balance between drivability and sustainability, the Aceman is not just all-electric: it also offers leather-free interiors, using partly recycled materials (without compromising on comfort), and new-gen wheels made from up to 30% secondary aluminium.
This nippy drive also merges its commitment to sustainability with the practicality that MINI owners, such as Dipti Tait, 51, have come to rely on.
'Although I love everything about my black MINI One, I like what I see with the Aceman,' says Tait, from Stroud in Gloucestershire. 'The fact that it's all-electric is very exciting, and I'd really appreciate the increased boot space.
'I call my current MINI a 'maxi,' because it fits so much into the boot, but the Aceman takes things even further. We managed to move my son to university in a single trip, but we could probably move a whole house with the Aceman.'
Dipti Tait
Tait is right about the impressive amount of space available – the cleverly designed boot can be configured to give up to 1,005 litres of room. And, with roof rails as standard, a MINI roof rack or box will give you even more room to play with.
While Edwards and Tait explore what the MINI Aceman has to offer, a week behind the (sporty, two-spoke) wheel has shown Blackstock what his future as part of the all-electric MINI community might look like.
'Of all the EVs out there, I'd say it's right up there with the best,' he says. 'Now I've driven it, when I'm ready to hang up my MINI Cooper keys, the Aceman is definitely on my wishlist.'
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