Hot MINI Aceman JCW and MINI JCW Electric unleashed in Paris as brand adds fast to fun
The 2025 MINI JCW Electric and MINI JCW Aceman have both been unwrapped at the Paris Motor Show with both the hot zero-emission hot hatch and fast small SUV getting more power, a sportier suspension and JCW design cues inside and out.
Set to touchdown in Australia in 2025, the MINI John Cooper Works Electric and MINI John Cooper Works Aceman –to give them their full names – drop the standard SE’s 160kW/330Nm single-motor for a more powerful 190kW/350Nm e-motor.
Now far quicker than the standard car, the JCW hatch’s 5.9 second sprint for the 0-100km/h is down from 6.7sec, while the JCW Aceman takes just 6.4 seconds to reach the same benchmark, a big improvement over the 7.1 second dash.
Top speed for both raises from a not enough for German roads 150km/h to 200km/h.
For rapid fire overtakes, MINI says the JCW versions both now come with a an overboost mode that can be activated by one of the steering wheel-mounted paddles that adds an extra 20kW of power for short bursts.
Whichever you choose both JCW MINIs get the same 54.2kWh battery that provides a WLTP-rated range of 371km for the JCW hatch and up to 355km for the Aceman.
Unsurprisingly, those figures are down on the Cooper SE’s 402km range and the Aceman SE’s ability to cover up to 406km on a full charge – the price you pay for that extra performance on tap.
Improving the drive the JCW Aceman and hatch get a bespoke sportier suspension tune and ride on grippier Hankook Ion Evo R rubber that have been developed for fast EVs.
Performance brakes with red and white JCW calipers both increase braking power while advertising you’ve paid extra for the JCW version.
Which is important because both the core Aceman and Cooper Electric already come with the option of a JCW styling pack and the new flagship JCW model adopt it as standard.
That explains why both cars bag a sportier front bumper, new rear bumper with black accents, a rear spoiler, chequered flag JCW badging and different daytime-running lights.
Exclusive to the new JCW versions are extra red accents on the front bumpers air curtains and new JCW 18-inch alloy wheels on the JCW Electric hatch and larger 19s on the JCW Aceman.
At the rear, the hatch gets a black flag-patterned panel on its tailgate.
JCW buyers are also able to order a contrasting red/black roof panel as well as body stripes, to help distinguish it from lesser tarted-up Aceman and Cooper Electric hatchbacks.
Within both cars the JCW enhancements continue, with specific JCW-branded sport seats that use half synthetic leather and fabric with red stitching included. The dash is also wrapped in black and red fabric that provides a cool chequered pattern.
Expected to be on sale in Australia in the first half of 2025, pricing and full specification for the MINI JCW Electric hot hatch and MINI JCW Aceman will be released much later.
Despite the unveiling of two high-performance EVs, JCW says it will continue to develop fast combustion cars, with the MINI sub-brand announcing it wants to continue making faster versions of every model in the line-up.
