MINI Korea's three all-electric models are on display at the BMW Driving Center on Incheon's Yeongjong Island, Thursday. Courtesy of MINI Korea
YEONGJONG ISLAND, Incheon — MINI Korea unveiled its all-electric family lineup, featuring the Cooper, Countryman and Aceman, on Thursday, demonstrating its commitment to attracting demand for premium compact electric vehicles (EVs), the iconic brand under BMW Group said.
The Cooper and Countryman are familiar to local customers, but the carmaker introduced the Aceman for the first time here to round out its full-fledged EV lineup. The Aceman is positioned between the Cooper and Countryman and is only available as an EV, unlike the two others.
MINI has focused on embedding its flagship go-kart identity in the three EVs, enabling customers to enjoy a fun driving experience even with the electric models.
The new all-electric MINI Cooper is capable of a maximum output of 218 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in only 6.7 seconds. The vehicle drives up to 300 kilometers on a single charge, and it takes half an hour to charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent at fast-charging stations. The price for the vehicle starts from 52.5 million won ($36,100) without subsidies.
The new all-electric MINI Countryman boasts superb responsiveness. For the launch event, the vehicle was delivered for a test drive from Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, to the BMW Driving Center on Yeongjong Island near Incheon International Airport. The vehicle provides a stronger driving performance than the electric MINI Cooper, as its maximum output reaches 313 horsepower.
The electric Countryman was extremely sensitive in terms of acceleration and deceleration. When this reporter stepped on the accelerator, it instantly picked up speed. Unlike other EVs, the vehicle also gave a sense that it maintains the identity of MINI due to its agile and solid driving performance.
MINI Korea's Aceman electric vehicle is displayed at the BMW Driving Center on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, Thursday. Courtesy of MINI Korea
Last but not least, the Aceman was also available for a test ride from Incheon to Gimpo. The Aceman carried a stronger MINI identity than the electric version of the Countryman, as the fresh model was equipped with core elements representing the auto brand with a compact body size. The Aceman can drive up to 312 kilometers on a single charge.
“The Aceman features key upsides of SUVs, such as their sporty image and versatile use, but its compact size allows drivers to enjoy not just city drives, but also leisure activities,” Jeong Seo-eun, a product manager at MINI Korea, told reporters during its launch event.
All three EV models from MINI Korea are equipped with the brand's symbolic circular displays. The carmaker spoke highly of the quality of the OLED displays provided by Samsung Display.
This year marks the 20th anniversary since the carmaker started doing business in Korea in 2005. The brand has since solidified its footing with accumulated sales of some 126,000 vehicles until the end of 2024. Last year, the MIN Countryman was also beloved by Korean customers, with its sales reaching more than 2,800 during the period. This is the largest figure in the nation's premium small SUV market.