The Mini brand, overseen in the Philippines by the Autohub Group of Companies, recently marked 15 years in the country with a double launch – presenting at its Bonifacio Global City flagship dealership the first brand’s first from-the-ground-up electric model, the Aceman, and the newest iteration of the Cooper Five-Door.
“We’re very happy with the growth of Mini, as our customers are. This is one of the few brands in the world which brings a smile to people’s faces,” said Autohub President Willy Tee President to members of the press shortly after unveiling the two models.
Positioned as the “first crossover model for the premium small car segment,” the first-ever Mini Aceman is hailed as a “contemporary interpretation of classic Mini inventor Sir Alec
Issigonis’ underlying vision: maximum utilization of space with a minimum footprint, combined with a modern drive concept.” Measuring 4.07 meters in length, 1.75m in width, and 1.5m in height, the Aceman slots in between the Mini Cooper and the larger Mini Countryman.
As with the latest iteration of its Mini siblings, the Aceman promises an “immersive digital user experience,” along with the go-kart handling the brand is known for. Said Tee Ten in a release, “This exceptional car combines Mini’s signature urban adventure spirit with iconic design elements to inspire a new generation of drivers leading the way in fashion, technology, and culture. We are confident this new all-electric Mini Aceman will provide a thrilling city-driving experience.”
The high-voltage battery of the Aceman outputs 160kW and 330Nm, expected to send the vehicle from a standstill to 100kph in 7.1 seconds – onto a top speed of 170kph. Perhaps of more significance for users, the battery’s 54.2kWh energy content translates to a range of up to 407 kilometers between charging cycles, according to WLTP standards.
A unique headlight form fringes a familiar grille – set in “highly contrasting accents” to make the model stand out. A silver octagonal shape extends to the lower lip of the front air dam for enhanced presence. The LED daytime running lighting surrounding the main headlight arrays (also LEDs) can be switched among three different modes.
Inside, the Mini Aceman expresses a reductionist theme – distilling design into three key elements: an “easy-to-handle steering wheel,” a central, 240mm OLED display reflects the classic outsized circular one of the brand, and remodeled toggle switches. Color-adjustable ambient lighting runs along the roof frame, while free-standing door handles and speaker covers in a so-called Vibrant Silver finish are aligned diagonally. Curved surfaces within are covered with knitted material “in which the lower color shines through the upper one.” Extending to the interior door trim, the easy-care, versatile structure is made of recycled polyester. Seats are covered in perforated Vescin.
Going back to the central OLED display, it features Mini’s Operating System 9 and “enables all driving functions to be operated intuitively by touch or voice. A center for both comfort and experience, the Mini Interaction Unit is handled in a similar way to a smartphone.”
The Mini Aceman is priced at P3.55 million.
Meanwhile, the Mini Cooper Five-Door is available in an all-new guise and exclusively powered by an ICE here. Still featuring the classic elements of the Cooper line – short overhangs, a small bonnet, a long wheelbase, and large wheels – the Cooper Five-Door stretches 4.036m, is 1.744m wide, and is 1.464m tall. Mini Philippines said that its dimensions are similar to the outgoing model and reflects the same ethos: “To create as much space as possible on a small footprint.”
Under the bonnet is a 2.0-liter Mini TwinPower Turbo engine mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Maximum output is 198hp and 300Nm, with a zero-to-100kph time of 6.6 seconds and a top rate of 242kph. Versus its Three-Door version, the Five-Door’s wheelbase is 72mm longer, and the body is 172mm longer – translating to more space in the cabin. Still, the model retains a compact profile, leading to easy and comfortable maneuverability even in tight spaces.
The new-generation Mini Cooper still features the iconic round headlight assembly flanking an octagonal front grille. Standard are LED headlights with individually adjustable daytime running
light elements. In the rear is a new Mini design aesthetic with clear surfaces and “flush-fitting” tail lights. Now vertically aligned, the LED clusters are said to call to mind classic Mini rear lighting. This “modern and purist” look is complemented black handle strip with model lettering, and a horizontal alignment lends to a wider stance.
Inside are the same outsized round instrument and toggle switch array, updated with new technology and touches. A head-up display in lieu of the classic steering wheel-mounted instrument cluster “ensures that all relevant content appears in the driver’s field of vision.”
Interior materials involve the aforementioned knitted recycled polyester that is both versatile and easy to care for. The textile surface extends across the curved dashboard and into the door panels. Meanwhile, 60:40 folding rear seats increase the luggage compartment capacity from 275 liters to up to 925 liters. The new Mini Cooper Five-Door is priced at P3.799 million.
“EVs are gaining traction after the President signed an order to exempt them from duties. You can see that our EVs are cheaper than our ICE (internal combustion engine) cars,” Tee Ten continued, and added that the premium market has been known to be an early adopter of EVs because these can be charged at home. “We’re hoping for the establishment of more public-access electric charging stations, and for condominium administrators to allow charging stations to be established (within their properties) so that our customers can charge at home.”
“We’re very happy with what Mini has done, and we’re happy that they’re going to new energy vehicles. I hope more people will get to try them,” he said in closing.
