Mini Acemen Announcement 27 July!

My last car (Ford Focus ST, '13) was "Powered by Microsoft" with the SYNC platform, yeah.
Honestly it worked fine and never glitched on me once, it was really solid.

And while I'm an Android fan, Android Auto isn't worth using imho. It's terrible. I've been debating getting an iPhone since Apple has really upped their privacy game lately, but this is a major tangent from the Aceman announcement.

 

All I will say is, don't underestimate the value of this.

 

I know I am always rushing around with the kids but did I read this wrong, it is not coming to the US, the Mini SE too?

https://www.motoringfile.com/2022/07/26/all-electric-mini-aceman-concept-our-first-look-at-the-next-generation-mini-family/

 

The same story with Porsche 911 they put crooked lights and people rejected and Porsche return to round lights since on all 911 models.

 

"it’s still unclear of any of the Chinese made electric MINIs will make it to the US"
Sure seems like that may be the case, the article cites the tariffs on goods imported from China, and when Mini moves production to Great Wall for the '24 model electrics they'll be Chinese imports so... significant price hike, or maybe just don't try for the US market with them.

 

Sound you don’t need rear seats as I put new thread ask BMW / Mini to eliminate rear sits and put batteries there and trunk get a bit larger and a range could be 200 miles with 50 kWh batteries and iconic looks survive for few years

 

I saw that too. Motoring File is the only place i saw that. I immediately thought thank God i'm getting the last MINI electric 2 door hardtop that will be available in the US in the foreseeable future.

But i just can't believe it. MINI HAS to find a way to get us these cars. The SE might not be the best seller, but they can sell every one that comes in. Considering the added range of the Chinese built car, they will absolutely sell every one that would come over. The MINI 2 door hardtop EV is just too iconic to not be available in the US. It would be more than a shame, it would simply be crazy.

Some other Motoring File article (i couldn't find it) mentioned they asked the MINI team about shipping the parts and assembling in Mexico or another country. Other manufacturers do certain cars this way. I think the response was that they would like to make that happen. If the Countryman EV is going to be made in Germany and imported to US, then they could certainly assemble the 2 door there for us.

 

An InsideEVs article last year said the import tariff on the 2024 SE will be 27.5% and MINI would expect dealers to accept a 3% cut in their profit margin. The cut would come out of the 6% “trade margin” dealers get as the difference between a vehicle’s invoice and its sticker price.

Of course, dealers can charge whatever they choose for a car (look at the $5K-$10K "Dealer Market Adjustments" some dealers are larding onto the price of a Hyundai Ioniq 5), so this MINI SE margin giveaway may not happen.

Will people pony up $45K for a 2024 MINI Cooper SE? $55K? In MINI's favor, it appears no other manufacturer is developing a small, sporty EV, so the SE will continue to own the niche. As always, the actual price and numbers sold will reflect the balance of supply vs demand.

 

I think a LARGE part of the Mini SE's appeal right now is the value; add $10k to that and it's a much harder sell against the competition.
Sure a few of us want physically small cars, but let's be honest, we're a tiny minority of US car buyers and we're mostly ignored.

 

Agree. I decided it was time for a new car late last winter, and was resigned to the fact that I’d either have to go ICE to get a small car, or a less-expensive car, or wait a year or two to get an EV that is bigger than I need and more expensive than I can justify. I honestly hadn’t heard of the SE, then I Googled for “EVs available in Canada” and it popped up — with the base price — and I headed to the dealership that day. Sat with that dealership’s Ace and had a good chat, then he took me in a short ride. Next, he handed me the fob and programmed a nice, half hour route in the nav, and let me go. I was sold. Note that I had a better initial experience at another dealership and ordered there after another drive.

 

Motoring File keeps reporting that MINI is going to do a third LCI to the F56 platform, so I wouldn't be surprised if the current F56 SE continues to be sold in the US while other markets get the new SE from China.

 

I mean, aren’t the Countryman and the F57 built in the Netherlands? What will Crowley do?

 

!!!

 

It really needs round headlights…

I love the round infotainment screen and the touches like the Union Jack roof rack.
The front light display is obviously frivolous nonsense that won’t make production and I feel the same about the dashboard projections.
I’d prefer the dash was not covered in material either as that’s a pain to keep clean and dust free.

In any case I would have zero interest in an SUV type Mini as for me a Mini is supposed to be, well, mini…
I still think most of the US public doesn’t actually want an SUV or crossover, they likely buy them because most cars here are sedans and they likely want a hatch. In Europe most cars are hatches which is why they’re so popular although low interest rates and fuel prices have got many people looking for a status symbol SUV as well sadly…

 

I hope MINI doesn't emulate the Tesla Model 3/Y model of dispensing with the display of driver information actually in front of the driver. Elon is adamant those "entry-level" Teslas will never offer an easy-to-view Head-Up Display, but Tesla still has a driver-centric instrument panel on the more expensive S and X models. The value of minimalism has limits IMO.

 

Want more information about the Aceman? Here. It's a very popular item online.

 

Minimalism gets to the point that even YOU don't belong in the vehicle.

 

It is interesting that the 3/Y only get a center display whereas the S/X get an additional screen in the traditional gauge cluster position.

I was dead against the idea of not having the gauge cluster.
Now that I’ve had my Y for a while I realize it is of no inconvenience only having the central screen and the upshot is that my visibility is greatly improved by the low dash directly ahead that this offers. It also makes for a better HVAC vent position.
The upshot is that I was trying to decide what I would go for if I decided to trade-in the Y with a Model S Long Range being the likely candidate as it’s cheaper than the X but still has a liftgate, but what puts me off is the presence of the gauge cluster which now feels old fashioned. Essentially I now love the minimalism of the Y and wouldn’t want to go back to a more fussy interior.
The yoke steering wheel on the other hand…

 

Whatever ends up happening, it's looking more like getting the current MINI SE will turn out to be a great decision.

 

LOL! I admit it never occured to me that what I considered to be a bug could be a feature. You're making a good case for minimalism.

For decades, this is has been one of my favorite memes (before they were called memes, even). I just modified it by adding the right side and the large labels.



Certainly, Tesla could make a display in front of the driver that didn't impinge on the view out the windshield--or a Head-Up Display that reflects in the windshield and which could be turned off for those who don't want to see it. All I want is the speed-limit and my speed instantly visible (like in my SE).