MINI reveals the all-new Cooper JCW and ACEman JCW EVs as the brand prepares to use the duo to help spearhead its broader push into the EV market. The Aceman gets its chance to shine in the JCW lineup for the first time ever.
MINI unveiled its new lineup of JCW EVs with the Cooper SE and the Aceman being the first to receive the package.
MINI’s push into electrification has done a good job turning heads with the quirky British brand attempting to inject some of the magic that its ICE models are known for into EVs which are typically better known for their ability to save the planet versus their performance-driving character.
However if the first wave of MINI’s newly launched JCW EVs are to be believed, the brand may be on to something with MINI confirming that it’s not only making an electric JCW version of the familiar Cooper SE but also the recently launched Aceman EV with the latter being given a new halo model to help complete its family tree.
Cooper JCW EV is a dose of familiarity, Aceman is a surprise
The Cooper SE is a taste of familiarity but the Aceman is a new and unexpected surprise.
Leading the pack is the JCW Cooper EV with this model following a very familiar blueprint with JCW designers using the three-door version of the Cooper SE as a starting point. Like other ICE-powered JCW three-doors we have seen over the years, JCW designers threw plenty at the car to transform it into a JCW with the front fascia being reworked to create a sportier appearance. This includes a revamped lower front bumper and a tweaked grille panel to help provide more cooling to the powertrain.
Meanwhile, the surprise of the bunch is the Aceman JCW. Prior reports and speculation suggested the brand was possibly resorting to a familiar game plan with the Countryman EV getting the call for JCW duty due to its existing ICE variant. However, the Aceman was the one that was picked instead, allowing the five-door CUV to have an opportunity to expand its presence and branch out to performance buyers. All Aceman JCWs get the same basic styling revisions with the Aceman getting minor tweaks exclusive to it versus the Cooper.
One size fits all JCW performance
The interiors of both models also continue JCW’s drive to achieve functional simplicity.
With both models being built on the same basic EV platform, it’s no surprise to see that both of them are front-wheel drive only with a 255-hp single electric motor being the lone EV powertrain available. This follows established JCW tradition with the brand always having a preference for front-wheel drive for the bulk of their models and it has the bonus of reducing weight versus the extra flab a dual-motor setup would have added to both models.
MINI says that this powertrain setup allows the Cooper version of the JCW to make the sprint to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds while the heavier Aceman needs 6.4 seconds to do the same deed. A boost function is also included on both models which temporarily adds 27 extra horsepower to the powertrain. This is good for overtaking and other driving situations but it’s not known if the feature needs a cooldown period before each use like similar features we have seen on other perfor,ance models.
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- MINI Teases Two JCW Models, Confirms EVs Will Be Only Vehicles At Its Booth
- MINI’s JCW E EV Model Leaked in China, More Power Is Coming
Tariffs blunt JCW EV launch plans for now
The duo will not be coming to the U.S, for now, due to beefed-up tariffs that were passed by the Biden administration.
The two models will be making their debut at the 2024 Paris Motor Show alongside MINI’s other EV models, but while the pair are going into production and will be sold in international markets, there’s no plans for them to come to the U.S. which is a byproduct of toughened-up tariffs that the United States imposed on China. The two JCWs will be built by Spotlight Automotive a 50:50 venture company BMW established with Great Wall Automotive. The Chinese connection caused the two JCWs to be impacted by the enhanced tariffs and as a result, it didn’t make much sense to bring them over to our shores.
However, this state of affairs might change if BMW and MINI feel that there’s enough demand in the U.S. for either model with BMW potentially moving JCW EV production to Oxford in the UK which would allow the JCWs to avoid the sting of tariffs and make their way to the U.S. market. Time will tell but look for the JCWs to be the proverbial spearheads of MINI’s broader EV revolution especially as the brand prepares to expand its presence further over the next few years in the EV marketplace. In the meantime, the Cooper JCW EV will be sold alongside the existing ICE-powered model with the setup allowing buyers to have choice when it comes to their flavor of performance.
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