The Mini Aceman is IKEA for the rich

Since the first Neo-Mini wildly expanding mini-range reminded of the Flodder family, the television series about a tokens family in a Kakbuurt. The Flodders were nice strange ducks in the residential area where they did not, but as a lost paradise birds a bit again. Similarly, Mini under BMW flag for the main prize was Stoute Underground in Elite circles. You had the convertible, claustrophobic solar ovtje on wheels. The Clubman, attempt at station car with the cute double back doors of the original transport mini. De Coupé was a kind of mobile baseball cap and the failed Paceman a two-door SUV with the handling of a torture tool. Both were quickly gone.

Unfortunately, the happinesses made their modest name less and less honor. They grew unrestrained. It’s time. Everything must be big and fat. Watches, houses, sneakers, SUVs. The current Countryman, 2,000 kilos in his electric variant, shares its platform with the voluminous BMW X1.

Zoom in for details of mini Aceman SEClick on the points for explanation about the details.Merlin Doomernik

Now the Aceman, larger than the three -door mini but much smaller than the countryman. In a car world in which species names mean less and less you could call him a semi-SUV. Form and dimensions fill a no -man’s land only observed by mini between the crossover and the five -door hatchback that they also sell you at Mini, albeit with micro doors through which only litter -maker socialites come through. With the physical accessibility it is not better at the Aceman. He is not his care either. You shouldn’t ask why he came. Fun is the only criterion at Mini. The Aceman is nice, in the sense of separate. The bright colors are dolls. Rounded at the front and angular protection plates around the wheel arches at the back, the shape pull out of the lead playfully. Black mega sills cut as clamps in the mini meat.

Inside he traps you. The director’s right knee becomes irritatively stubbornly the nicely hardened control panel with a start button and shift lift. A raised left knee just adjusts in the hole between steering wheel and door. The door panel is more generous with dust covered than that of the Countryman doors, which half consist of indispensable cheap black plastic. Mini will have calculated that more door coverings on the Kleine Aceman would not cost a turd. The plastic plateau under the windshield remains a paupering, but there is plenty of cheerful distraction for premium -sensitive knees. The wanton round infotainment screen is as spectacular and awkward as in other minis. Over the dashboard covered with blue-orange fabric, crazy retro suitcase straps and the lower steering spoke is a kind of watch strap. It is informal exclusivity to steal, Ikea for the rich.

Become cheaper

That incentive earnings model now comes on its limits. More than 65 mille for the most expensive plug version of the countryman witnessed the sales figures even the mini-customer too much. That is why Mini greatly reduced prices. The cheapest Aceman fell by almost 5,000 euros to 34,490 euros, the tested Aceman SE costs 3,667 euros less than before with a basic price of 37,990 euros less. The Countryman devalued it correspondingly. Whether that unexpected accessibility persuades you depends on your style of life and appreciation for classic mini-virtues. He has the Aceman. He is contagious as real minis and the bmw plug-tech has breathtakingly efficient. The (hello!) 1,785 kilos of heavy Aceman is even more economical than my miserably missed BMW i3. Under ten degrees with only highway rides 15.6 kWh per hundred kilometers, it is masterful. On the way to summer that can only get better and not much worse in the winter, because the test aceman was still in one leg due to late night frost. Fast loading goes reasonably with 95 kW, no more.

Photos Merlin Doomernik

What if they would make something useful at Mini, you think. A car that, such as the primal mini of the immortal constructor Sir Alec Issigonis, would set new standards on the paradedisciplines of weight saving and thoughtful utilization of limited space? What if with a simple, powerful form they could breathe new life into the Spartan attractiveness of the first mini? As a niche brand, Mini is one of the few manufacturers who can afford such a gamble for good money. I see the buts. Mini is held hostage by thrillseekers. It can be written in increasingly impossible turns to drive their eternal boredom off. But the Speelkwartier stops once. While constructive genius is immortal. Without Issigonis’ mastery, the new mini would not have existed.

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