The Aceman falls between the existing Cooper and Countryman models in size, measuring just under four meters in length. Despite its compact footprint, Mini claims the Aceman offers comfortable seating for five and a versatile boot with up to 1,005 litres of cargo space.

A range of expressive colours and three distinct trim levels will allow for customization, with the “Classic” trim offering contrasting roof and mirror options, while the “Favoured” trim adds a multitone roof and white mirror caps. The top-of-the-line “JCW” trim boasts a sportier look with a redesigned front and rear fascia, red bonnet stripes, and a muscular rear design.

Inside, the Aceman adopts Mini’s new design language, “Charismatic Simplicity,” which emphasizes clean lines and a focus on driver-centric functionality. A hallmark toggle bar returns, albeit redesigned, for control of essential driving functions. A high-resolution OLED display serves as the central information hub, while the brand’s first-ever voice assistant, activated by saying “Hey MINI,” can be used to control various vehicle features.

In keeping with Mini’s electric future, the Aceman comes exclusively with an electric powertrain. At launch, two variants will be available: the Aceman E with a 135 kW motor and a 298-310 kilometer range, and the Aceman SE with a 160 kW motor offering 382-406 kilometers of range according to the WLTP test cycle. Both variants offer brisk acceleration and a top speed of up to 170 km/h.

The Mini Aceman boasts a sporty chassis and precise steering. Several driving modes are available to customize the experience, adjusting suspension settings, steering response, and traction control intervention.

Charging the Aceman’s battery is easy and convenient. The car supports AC charging at 11 kW, while DC fast charging allows the battery to reach 80% capacity from 10% in under 30 minutes. The Mini app provides real-time battery status, charging history, and route planning with charging stops factored in.

The Mini Aceman arrives in Mzansi later this year while pricing and exact trims are yet to be confirmed.

For those not familiar with Pat Moss and her incredible MINI story, here’s the 411:

In May 1962, the classic Mini was added to the list of winners of an international rally event for the first time. In the international Tulip Rally – from the Dutch municipality of Noordwijk to the French Riviera and back again – Pat Moss achieved the best time over the distance in the classic Mini Cooper.

Back to the limited-edition models at hand, what buyers can expect are unconventional design features and stylish details that characterise the Pat Moss Edition. In terms of technicalities there will be 4-cylinder turbo engines offering an output of 141 kW or 170 kW (MINI John Cooper Works), these cars bring the thrills of sporty driving fun to everyday traffic.

It also incorporates MINI product innovations such as the Multitone Roof. The colour gradient of the vehicle roof extends from Chilli Red to Melting Silver and Jet Black.

A stylised tulip symbolises the first rally victory: it appears on the C pillars and side scuttles of the edition vehicles along with the inscription “Pat Moss”. The wheel hub covers also feature an exclusive design with a graphic that is based on the outline of the typical Dutch flower and the MINI wordmark.

Another design element used for the first time in the Pat Moss Edition is the horizontally aligned bonnet stripe in white. The printed combination of three-dimensional numbers and letters – 737 ABL – is the registration number of the classic Mini that won the 1962 Tulip Rally, likewise recalling the historical model. Meanwhile the original signature that Pat Moss wrote on the bonnet of her car after one of her victories adorns the front apron of the edition model as a graphic imprint.

In the interior of the edition vehicles, the iconic signature on the Piano Black interior surface in the passenger area is another tribute. The sports leather steering wheel bears the edition emblem in the form of a tulip graphic that appears on the clip of the lower spoke.

The Pat Moss Edition will be available in South Africa in limited quantities from the third quarter of 2022. There is no indication on pricing as yet.

A MINI has always looked like, well, a MINI, but the 2021 model year brings one of the bigger changes in aesthetic we’ve seen from the brand. The front bumper and grille, the side scuttles behind the front fenders, the wheel arches, and the rear bumper have all been changed, and there are tweaks to the door handles, badging, fuel filler cap, and exhaust pipes.

Most noticeable is the change to the bumper, with the grille insert now body-colour rather than black. LED headlamps are standard, along with Union Jack taillamps. MINI has also removed the fog lamps, replacing their functionality with a new headlamp element it’s referring to as the “bad weather light” that’ll also be standard.

The other big change is the Multitone roof option on the 2022 MINI 3 and 5 doors. The automaker points out that it popularized the contrast-finish roof idea, something other car companies have since adopted. Now, it’s jumping ahead to this blended finish version, which transitions through light blue, dark blue, and black. MINI makes it by spraying on the different colour paints while they’re all still wet, creating a unique gradient on each car.

There is also a Gloss Black package, with piano black exhaust finishers and the rest of the exterior chrome switched for black trim instead. New wheels are being added to the range, and there’ll be three new colours available. Rooftop Grey and Zesty Yellow are brand new, while Island Blue was previously only available on the Countryman.

Familiar but new is the same theme inside the 2022 MINI range. There’s a new steering wheel design, with a Union Jack element at the lower spoke, and for the first time it’s available with heating too. There’s new upholstery options, including a cloth leatherette in black pearl with a light checkered finish.

The dashboard has new surfacing and vents, and there’s new door decor. More importantly, features like SiriusXM are now standard, as is the freshly-introduced lane departure warnings. The Cooper SE’s digital instrument cluster is now standard across all of the 2022 models, as is the 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, replacing the old 6.5-inch version. The system gets new software and an updated interface with different UI modes, too.

Sadly, it’s not all good news. Apple CarPlay is still an option, included in the Navigation Package. MINI says that’s because it requires different hardware, which is only installed when the nav option is fitted, but considering other automakers are making both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard – including MINI owner BMW, which has been pushing wireless versions of Apple’s system too – that seems like a milquetoast excuse.

The new MINI 3-door, the MINI 5-door, the MINI Convertible pricing starts at R420 000 for the 3-door while the SE starts at R658 000.

The local Mini Sharing pilot programme is based at BlackBrick in Sandton, a “vertical village” on the centrally located Fredman Drive. The Mini Sharing service is available exclusively to residents of BlackBrick, and members of the BlackBrick Club.

The company says it’s offering a fleet of its electric MINI Cooper SE.

Pricing is done by the mileage and time, which can make the service seem pretty expensive at first, but keep in mind that it’s designed to be used for quick trips around the city. Think Uber. This is reinforced with the fact that Mini Sharing allows one-way trips, which means drivers can leave the car after one ride, as long as it’s parked within a specified area. All prices are inclusive of insurance, electricity, toll fees and other associated costs.

Mini and its big brother BMW has offered similar car-sharing services throughout Europe, and while it’s debuting in Jozi, the car company says it will eventually be available in more areas and cities.

A MINI has always looked like, well, a MINI, but the 2022 model year brings one of the bigger changes in aesthetic we’ve seen from the brand. The front bumper and grille, the side scuttles behind the front fenders, the wheel arches, and the rear bumper have all been changed, and there are tweaks to the door handles, badging, fuel filler cap, and exhaust pipes.

Most noticeable is the change to the bumper, with the grille insert now body-colour rather than black. LED headlamps are standard, along with Union Jack taillamps. MINI has also removed the fog lamps, replacing their functionality with a new headlamp element it’s referring to as the “bad weather light” that’ll also be standard.

The other big change is the Multitone roof option on the 2022 MINI 3 and 5 doors. The automaker points out that it popularized the contrast-finish roof idea, something other car companies have since adopted. Now, it’s jumping ahead to this blended finish version, which transitions through light blue, dark blue, and black. MINI makes it by spraying on the different colour paints while they’re all still wet, creating a unique gradient on each car.

There’ll be a Gloss Black package, with piano black exhaust finishers and the rest of the exterior chrome switched for black trim instead. New wheels are being added to the range, and there’ll be three new colours available. Rooftop Grey and Zesty Yellow are brand new, while Island Blue was previously only available on the Countryman.

Familiar but new is the same theme inside the 2022 MINI range. There’s a new steering wheel design, with a Union Jack element at the lower spoke, and for the first time it’s available with heating too. There’s new upholstery options, including a cloth leatherette in black pearl with a light checkered finish.

The dashboard has new surfacing and vents, and there’s new door decor. More importantly, features like SiriusXM are now standard, as is the freshly-introduced lane departure warnings. The Cooper SE’s digital instrument cluster is now standard across all of the 2022 models, as is the 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, replacing the old 6.5-inch version. The system gets new software and an updated interface with different UI modes, too.

Sadly, it’s not all good news. Apple CarPlay is still an option, included in the Navigation Package. MINI says that’s because it requires different hardware, which is only installed when the nav option is fitted, but considering other automakers are making both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard – including MINI owner BMW, which has been pushing wireless versions of Apple’s system too – that seems like a milquetoast excuse.

The new MINI 3-door, the MINI 5-door, the MINI Convertible will be available in South Africa from Q2 2021 where pricing will also be confirmed.

While it’s arguably as far from the original concept of the British MINI as you can imagine, the Countryman variant has actually been a hit for BMW. According to MINI, the outgoing version was responsible for almost 30-percent of MINI sales worldwide.

For the 2021 model year, MINI isn’t straying too far from what works. After all, first impression count. Outside, there’s a new radiator grille, flanked with LED headlamps and fog lights as standard. LED rear lights with a Union Jack design are now standard too. There are fresh wheel designs available, and a new set of body finishes including a Piano Black Exterior package.

That switches the chrome that MINI would ordinarily use for the headlamp surrounds, rear lights, grille, and side indicator trim for high-gloss black. The door handles and badging on the boot are also changed. MINI will offer matching black mirror caps and side scuttles with a grey-black flag as an extra option, if you wish.

Ride along and you get 17-inch wheels are standard, with up to 19-inch versions available. MINI is also adding White Silver metallic and Sage Green metallic paint options as well. For MY2021, you can have your roof and mirror caps in black, white, or silver rather than body-coloured, too.

Under the bonnet, there are a variety of powertrains available, including a 3-cylinder (Cooper) and 4-cylinder (Cooper S). Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive are available too. The latter, MINI JCW Countryman ALL4, has all-wheel drive as standard.

The MINI Cooper Countryman has 100kW and do 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds while the MINI Cooper S Countryman gets 141kW and does 0-100 in 7.5 seconds.

During the road trip we found that inside there’s more practicality and tech, like you’ve never imaged. As the largest of the MINI models, the Countryman unsurprisingly offers the most practical interior. The rear seat has a 40:20:40 split as standard: folding it down expands boot space.

Piano black interior trim is standard on the entry-level cars, with British Oak dark accent strips. A new MINI Yours Interior Style Shaded Silver is optional, as are new Chesterfield Indigo Blue and Chesterfield Malt Brown leather interiors. All cars get a sports leather steering wheel; electric seat adjustment for both front seats are available.

Then there’s the new digital instrument panel which comes in at 5-inches in size, and there are optional Connected Media and Connected Navigation Plus infotainment systems for the 8.8-inch central touchscreen. MINI has better integrated the centre console controls, and there are now touch-sensitive bookmark buttons.

PRICES: MINI Cooper Countryman R599,624.00, MINI Cooper S Countryman R631,004.00

We recently got a First Impressions drive on the MINI Cooper SE ahead of its official introduction in the country. See our first drive video below (excuse the chuckles).

Along with the 135 kW of power you get 270 Nm of torque. 0-100 km/h comes in 7.3 seconds, BMW says in its official docs.

They’re hardly inspiring numbers. A 400PS  Jaguar I-PACE accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 4,8 seconds, for example. One would think that things were only likely to get less impressive as the Mini arrives here, too, but fortunately its not been the case.

BMW is clearly counting on MINI fans driving sales. The Cooper SE is based on the 3-door model, with its electric motor under the bonnet and the 32.6 kWh battery being a T-shaped block under the floor. That means a lower centre of gravity than the petrol version of the car, but also no reduction in boot space. Still, it’s heavier than a Mini Cooper S 2-door hardtop.

Outside, the charge port is above the right-hand rear wheel, and gets a door with an embossed MINI Electric logo. Yellow highlights are on the tailgate and front radiator grille, along with the side indicators. The front grille itself is closed off, and is flanked with LED headlamps. Optional 17-inch aerodynamic wheels have an asymmetrical design, while the standard wheels come in at 16-inches.

Inside, meanwhile, there’s a controller to switch between four drive modes. Sport tightens up the steering and makes the electric drive more eager than the standard MID mode; GREEN and GREEN+ modes focus on efficiency. In GREEN+ mode, for example, aircon and seat heating are either limited or deactivated to save power. There’s also a separate control to switch the regenerative braking between intense and low levels, to adjust how rapidly the Cooper SE slows when you lift off the accelerator.

The instrumentation uses a 5.5-inch colour display, and there are custom graphics and navigation as standard; the latter can show potential range based on the current battery level. Level 2 7.4 kWh charging is supported, as is up to 50 kW on a DC fast charging station. With the fast charging station, a 35 minute charge is good for 80-percent of the battery.

MINI – and BMW more broadly – has been promising an electric version of its urban favorite for some time now, though the Mini Cooper SE doesn’t stray too far from what we’ve seen before in BMW’s stable. Its specifications aren’t all that different to the BMW i3, for example: that pretty much matches the new MINI EV for speed and range.

That may not be enough, when you consider how fierce the small EV space is getting. BMW is retailing the 2020 MINI Cooper SE at around R642 000 with a healthy level of standard equipment, but it’ll take more than brand to lift the car out of the growing segment – range anxiety is a real thing.

The Mini logo is new along with new body finishes and a piano black exterior color. The cars all get new light alloy wheels and an expanded range of leather trim, interior surfaces, and color lines. All of the new models can also be customized via the new Mini Yours Customised program we talked about before.

Mini has further developed the engines used in the range for more efficiency and torque. The cars use a 7-speed Steptronic transmission with a double clutch or an 8-speed Steptronic in some versions. The steering wheel is a multifunction device and drivers get a radio with a 6.5-inch color screen, USB, and Bluetooth standard.

Options include radio and navigation systems with a touchscreen. Telephony with wireless charging is integrated and there are Mini logo projections from the exterior mirror on the driver side. Three new body finished for the cars include Emerald Gray metallic, Starlight Blue metallic, and Solaris Orange metallic.

The Piano Black Exterior gives a black surround around headlights, rear lights, and radio grille rather than chrome. The mini One First and Mini One get 1.5L 3-cylinder engines with 160 and 190Nm of torque and increased boost pressure.

I had always known the MINI Clubman was made for me in mind. I mean, I fit their target market perfectly; I am young, innovative and stylish. I am highly focused on practical features when it comes to cars, I consider my social status as very high and lastly It caters for my titanic body structure. The only problem though is that I am not a fan of this small car segment.

First Impressions Count

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Gone is that awkward club door on the preceding model, and in its place are an extra pair of real, traditional doors. But even more than changes to its body, Mini has taken the original Clubman idea – to build a more versatile version – to its logical extreme, going larger. More importantly, this 2016 model represents a more premium, comfortable direction for the Mini brand. But don’t worry, loyalists, this is still very much a Mini.

Mini’s exterior stylists worked hard to emphasize the car’s extra width, too, while retaining a brand-appropriate footprint. This was done, most obviously, with the addition of the large, horizontally oriented rear taillights. A meaty set of rear hips also works the theme. Finally, designers added a chamfered edge on the outside of the rear doors.

Other design decisions are less successful. Parking lot superheroes will lament the new electric parking brake, which has been fitted to accommodate a pair of large-ish cupholders ahead of the shifter. And outside, we found ourselves questioning the positioning of the brake lights, which are actually mounted in the bumper. My co-pilot, Danine Naidoo, on the launch journey rightly remarked that the Clubman’s rear is a rather busy place, what with four lights, three badge sets, two door handles, and two wipers.

The Interior

This ride comfort pairs very nicely with the Clubman’s in-cabin experience, which is better than ever. The backseats are spacious for two adults, although cramming a third in the center may require awkward warm feeling between all parties. In back, that extra overhang is good for 0.5 cubic meters of boot space, a figure that can be expanded to 1.5 cubic meters by lowering the 60/40-split rear chairs. As you can see by the photos, there’s plenty of room for at least a couple suitcases.

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While we’re on the topic of the cabin, it’s best that we address the Clubman’s exclusive interior treatments. The keen-eyed among you will note that, unlike the last-gen model, this car gets its own unique design. This was done in a bid by Mini to further differentiate the Clubman from the outgoing two- and four-door variants. The view forward is ruled by a stylish and strong “bracket,” a band of trim that runs from the front of the dash, to the doors, and on up underneath the windshield. While it’s not a new styling feature, it works especially well on a small car, as it makes the cabin appear wider. It’s also more elegant than the large “color lines” offered on the Mini Hardtop.

The Innards

The big news on the powertrain front is the new eight-speed automatic that will be offered alongside the six-speed manual transmission in the 2.0-liter, turbocharged Cooper S Clubman. (The 1.5-liter turbo triple in the standard Cooper will continue to be mated to six-speed transmissions, be they automatic or manual.)

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 The new transmission will be offered in two specs: the standard setup we had on our launch car and a quicker-shifting, paddle-equipped sport trim. In its base setup, which we had for the drive, we found upshifts to be brisk, especially in Sport mode, but not necessarily on pace with a dual-clutch transmission. It’s keen on downshifts, whether at your request or the computers, and is quick to engage off the line. The vehicle handled very well on the winding roads on route to Franschhoek.

At Play

As with the previous Clubman, this new model rides on a longer wheelbase. The 2.7m span is arguably more maxi than mini, offering buyers anywhere from 2.9 to 6.9 inches of extra space between the axles. It also makes the Clubman the longest vehicle Mini has ever made.

Thanks to the wider track, the Clubman feels even more stable in aggressive driving, with less body roll than some of its competition. We did notice a great number of dive under hard braking (the stoppers felt disappointing and underpowered, too). Our tester wasn’t fitted with Mini’s dynamic dampers, which were part of the unselected Sport Package. Adding the trick dampers would likely sharpen up the suspension in the bends even further address front-end issues under braking.

Part of the Mini legend is its sharp, takes-no-prisoners steering. But as with the suspension, the Clubman’s tiller is relaxed compared to its smaller counterparts. Turn-in is still extremely quick relative to mainstream offerings and the power assist is strong, but it doesn’t feel overboosted or twitchy. Instead, there’s a natural feeling to this electric setup. Feedback through the wheel is on the low side for something wearing a Mini badge, but there’s plenty of road-surface information telegraphed through the heavily bolstered seats to make up the difference.

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For most customers the details of the Clubman’s handling will take a backseat (no pun intended) to ride comfort. In this regard, Mini’s largest-ever model is also one of its most comfortable, boasting a civilized character over both B-road bumps and city center imperfections. Secondary impacts are particularly well muted, with the Clubman’s suspension managing the high-frequency rough stuff without much trouble. On larger impacts, suspension noises are limited, while the actual influence on cabin comfort is best described as minor.

Prices for the Clubman start at R343 000 for the three-cylinder Cooper, while the Cooper S will set you back R415 000. That’s only half the story, though, as the Porsche-like options catalog is capable of elevating both of those figures considerably. We weren’t given an official as-tested price of the car pictured here, but ticking off the optional content makes a R380,000 estimate seem likely.

Our launch Mini Cooper Clubman at a Glance

Engine: Turbocharged 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder, with 172 hp.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, Steptronic.

Speed: 0 to 100km/h in 9.1 seconds.

Fuel Consumption: 5.4l per 100km

Price as tested: R361 000.

Best feature: Extra boot and rear seating space with minimum downside.

Worst feature: The standard Mini cabin is starting to look tired.

Target buyer: A style lover looking for gas mileage without sacrificing a good time.