Perfume-making wasn’t on the bingo card at the start of the week, but then neither was whizzing around the Waitākeres en route to a foraged feast or hand-painting our own coffee mugs. It was a day as quirky and characterful as the star attraction: the Mini Aceman, making its maiden voyage on Kiwi roads.
Sitting between the punchy Cooper and the more grown-up Countryman, the Aceman quietly takes over from the now-departed Clubman. And while it shares the familiar Mini silhouette – and a handy five doors – it marks a clear shift: this one’s strictly electric.
The Aceman arrives in Aotearoa in three variants: the entry-level E Classic ($51,990), the mid-range SE Favoured ($69,990), and the extra sporty JCW ($75,990). Even the base E is well-equipped, featuring a striking 240mm OLED central touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, augmented reality satnav, parking assist, heated front seats, and a 100-watt stereo.
We launch from the Grey Lynn meeting spot in the SE – powered by a 160kW electric motor – and join a colourful convoy of Minis en route to our first stop of the day, Miller Road in Ponsonby. Here, we’re led into the studio workshop and guided through the basics of perfumery – including how base, middle, and top notes work – before being invited to concoct our own scents using a fascinating collection of glass tubes, droppers and scent strips. We even leave with personalised diffusers for our cars.
The next stop is the lovely studio of the equally lovely designer Evie Kemp where, as sunshine pours through huge open patio windows, our group sits in a surprisingly concentrated silence as we personalise our own on-the-go coffee cups with painted dots (the less said about our effort, the better!). After a scrumptious lunch, we head west, with the winding roads of the Waitākere Ranges affording the chance to truly stretch the Aceman’s legs and put some of its features to the test.
…there’s still plenty of the original spirit here: it’s cheeky, fun to drive, and impossible to ignore.
Flicking it into Go-Kart Mode even results in the electric ride growling like a high-performance car (after a celebratory “woo-hoo” from the speakers!). Go-Kart Mode also enhances the already legendary handling of the Mini – the Aceman hurtles from 0–100km/h in 7.1 seconds. The maximum range is a not-too-shabby 406km.
Other neat features include a sport steering wheel, head-up display, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. But for all the modern features, the interior still retains a romantically retro feel – boosted by the circular central instrument display. As soon as you plant yourself in those 100% recyclable Vescin leather seats, it’s immediately clear that you’re in a Mini. And despite its compact footprint, the 300-litre boot expands to an impressive 1,005 litres with the rear seats folded.
The final stop – and the standout experience of the day (other than the driving!) – takes the shape of the native forest farm experience, Velskov. At this serene, Scandi-inspired eatery nestled in the bush, we’re guided through a quite spectacular forest feast that includes the likes of on-site smoked mānuka-infused salmon, homemade white cheese from a historical Viking technique, mushroom truffle pate, and seasonal salad adorned with foraged koromiko flowers. The meal, accompanied by forest sounds, is so tranquil that it verges on a group meditation session – and a fitting complement to the Mini Aceman’s impressive sustainable credentials (an animal-friendly, leather-free interior; door panels made from over 90% recycled polyester fibres; 100% recycled seat surfaces; and wheels built from up to 30% secondary aluminium).
Of course, there’s some departure from Mini’s roots, but there’s still plenty of the original spirit here: it’s cheeky, fun to drive, and impossible to ignore. But now it’s electric, digital, and draped in a layer of lifestyle polish that feels well-suited to a new generation of urban – and sometime forest – explorers.
