2024 Mini Aceman electric SUV photos leaked

Images of the 2024 Mini Aceman SUV have been leaked weeks ahead of its planned official unveiling at the Beijing motor show on 24 April, including a John Cooper Works styling pack.

Shown as the Concept Aceman in July 2022, the production version of the Mini's 2024 Aceman has been photographed in China – where production will start late this year – revealing the electric-powered five-door SUV’s showroom design.

The images from China's Ministry of Industry and Technology (MIIT) reveal a three-model line-up of Aceman, Aceman S and Aceman S John Cooper Works variants.

While there are no interior photos, a variety of racing-inspired graphics, paint treatments and alloy wheels with low-profile sports tyres are clear in the MIIT’s pictures.

They also show trim level badges for the production models, with only minor changes compared to the Concept Aceman.

The Aceman – a new Mini nameplate – is the third model in the new-generation Mini line-up seen so far.

It forms part of a streamlined global line-up which sees the Clubman models dropped, and the Cooper name used to describe the three- and five-door hatchbacks – rather than being a trim level across the range.

The Aceman will sit between the Mini Cooper hatch and the Mini Countryman SUV – both due in Australia in 2024 – in terms of price and size.

At 4075mm in length, 1754mm in width and 1495mm in height, the Aceman is similar in size to the electric Jeep Avenger SUV and slightly smaller than the Volvo EX30 SUV.

Mini Australia has not officially confirmed the Aceman for local showrooms, however it is expected to offer the new model locally, and has shown the Aceman Concept on its public website.

Estimated pricing for Australia could see the Aceman kick off in the mid $50,000 range, given the electric Countryman starts from $64,990.

The Aceman will be underpinned by a new platform jointly developed with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motors (GWM), also used by the new-generation electric Cooper.

The new SUV will be powered exclusively by electricity.

It includes two front-wheel-drive set-ups using a single electric motor producing 135kW with a 40.7kWh battery, or 160kW with a 54.2kWh battery.

Driving range for the Aceman is yet to be revealed, with the electric Mini Cooper offering between 330km to 402km (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Testing Procedure or WLTP) depending on trim level.

A JCW high-performance version – not to be confused with the JCW styling pack seen in the leaked Chinese images – is expected to follow at a later date, with more power.

The Mini Aceman will be built in China alongside the electric Mini Cooper.

Additional production at the Oxford, UK plant for the Aceman and electric Mini Cooper is due to start in 2026.

In 2021, Mini announced plans to offer only electric vehicles by 2030, with BMW Group – which has owned the Mini brand since 1996 – aiming for half of its global sales to be electric vehicles the same year.