Triple the fun for Mini

ACEMAN: ICONIC BRAND'S FIRST PREMIUM CROSSOVER

- Jaco van der Merwe

While some say that three's a crowd, the introduction of the Mini Aceman means triple the fun for the iconic car brand.

The Mini Aceman was officially introduced as the third model in the manufacturer's local line-up this week. It takes up shop between the hatchback Cooper and SUV Countryman as Mini's first premium crossover.

Different to its siblings, which offers a choice between an internal combustion engine and all-electric powertrains, the new member of the family is only available as a choice of two electric configurations.

The top spec SE, which is the sole electric nomenclature on the Cooper and Countryman, and the more affordable E.

Both models feature a single front axle electric motor. The E's motor is hooked up to a 42.5kWh battery, while the SE is fitted with a 54.2kWh battery.

The SE produces 160kW of power and 330Nm of torque which is good enough to see it sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds. It has a claimed range of 400km, supports 93kW DC fast-charging and takes just under six hours to fully charge at home.

The 135kW/290Nm E features a claimed 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 7.9 seconds and a range of 305km. It supports DC fast-charging of up to 75kW and will take just under four and a half hours to charge at home when completely empty.