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Mini Aceman debuts at Beijing Auto Show as a little, all-electric crossover

This here is the totally new Mini Aceman, and it’s an all-electric, Mini crossover. Splitting the size difference between the properly mini Mini Cooper and large Mini Countryman, it fills the space previously occupied by the now-discontinued Clubman, but does so without a gasoline-powered option (or cute barn doors in the rear). Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, MiniÂ’s made clear that the Aceman is not yet confirmed for U.S. sales, and the global debut itself just took place at the Beijing Auto Show. So, as of now, this little EV is definitely destined for international markets, but weÂ’ll need to wait and see if Mini sees fit to bring it here.  Two versions will hit the market initially, the Aceman E and the Aceman SE. The base E is fitted with a single electric motor good for 184 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque, enough for a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds. It also gets a 42.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack that Mini says gives it a 192-mile range on the optimistic WLTP test cycle – fast charging peaks at 75 kW in this model. Meanwhile, the Aceman SE gets a more potent electric motor good for 218 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, reducing its 0-62 mph time to 7.1 seconds. The SE also gets a larger 54.2 kWh battery pack, increasing range to 252 miles on the WLTP cycle – it charges better than the E, too, peaking at 95 kW. Do note that both versions would cover much less ground on the EPA test, which is a more realistic barometer for real-world driving than the WLTP test. Coming in about 14 inches shorter and three inches narrower than the big Countryman, the Aceman is bound to be a more fun-to-drive and cheaper EV. We donÂ’t know much about its underpinnings now, but Mini says its suspension, steering, powertrain and braking systems are all tuned with fun driving in mind. Its outward appearance isnÂ’t a replica of, but closely follows the design direction proposed by the Aceman Concept back in 2022. Many elements weÂ’ve seen in the new Cooper and Countryman apply here, too, such as the customizable light patterns, flat surfacing and general minimalism to the styling. Wheel options between 17-19 inches will be available, and four different trims with varying styles will be, too. One of those four will be a JCW trim, but itÂ’s not meant to be a performance model, instead sticking to sporty appearance add-ons like a Chili Red roof and hood stripes alongside high-gloss black accents all around the exterior.

J.D. Power: Mini, Lexus again offer most satisfying sales experience

JD Power has released its annual Sales Satisfaction Index Study, and once again Mini and Lexus have taken top honors. Overall, buyers are more satisfied with the auto-buying sales experience than they were last year, with those surveyed reporting an average score of 664 points on a 1,000-point scale. That's up from 648 in 2011. Dealer satisfaction also increased by five points over last year as well.
All told, Lexus brought home an index score of 737, which was high enough to put it atop the luxury brands for the second year in a row. JD Power says Infiniti came in second in that category with a score of 728 and Cadillac rounded out the podium with it's rating of 725. Speaking of Infiniti, that brand saw the single largest jump in sales satisfaction of any brand on the survey, popping up 52 index points over 2011.
Among mass-market brands, Mini ranked highest with a score of 712, followed closely by Buick with 706 and GMC farther down the line with 683. You can check out the full press release below for more information.

BMW sold 2.49 million BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles in 2018

FRANKFURT — German carmaker BMW on Tuesday said it achieved record sales of 2.49 million BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles last year. "BMW Group achieved record sales in 2018. 2.49 million vehicles mean the BMW Group is the world's leading premium automotive company for the 15th year running," Chief Executive Harald Krueger said. In 2017, BMW Group sold 2.46 million vehicles. Daimler has not yet released annual sales figures for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, so it remains unclear whether BMW brand overtook Mercedes-Benz in terms of sales in 2018. Sales of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce cars were higher than Mercedes-Benz in 2017.