The Thailand Job: Mini Aceman SE, Cooper SE drive
Experiencing Mini's electric vision with the Aceman SE and Cooper SE in Thailand.
Unexpected trips or “biglaang lakad” as we Filipinos fondly say, usually leave lasting memories, and that was what this drive of mine did. The latter part of March has always been Bangkok Motor Show season for me. So, a sudden invitation from Mini Philippines to drive the new JCW versions of the Mini Electric and Aceman days ahead of my departure for Bangkok came as a somewhat pleasant surprise.
I expected it to be the usual drive around the small racetrack or a makeshift course that I was looking forward to. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was a curated road trip with a group of Singaporean motoring journalists.
Two days, two models
The lineup we were provided was a Mini Cooper SE and two Aceman S vehicles divided between the six of us.
The Mini Cooper SE coded J01 is now only available as a 3-door hatchback. It can go up to 402 kilometers on a full charge (WLTP).
Both cars run on identical motors and 54.2 kWh battery packs. The motor driving the front wheels is derived from the BMW i3S, it is rated at 218 hp with 330 Nm of torque. While it does carry parts from the BMW parts bin, the J01 is based on a new EV platform developed and built in China that also underpins the GWM Ora Cat. You might say they’re the same cars, but Mini rides on independent rear suspension while the latter runs on a solid beam rear axle, giving the Cooper SE a big edge in terms of handling and comfort.
Meanwhile, the Mini Aceman S coded J05 is a spiritual successor to the iconic Clubman. It runs on a similar modular platform as the J01 but rides taller and is a five-door crossover. It comes with the same powertrain and battery but a little more range at 405 kilometers (WLTP).
JCWs on track
Day one involved driving ourselves to the Pathumthani Speedway for what we thought was the "fun" part of the trip. We were going to be one of the first few to the new Mini John Cooper Works Aceman and Mini John Cooper Works, after all. So we were briefed on different specs and features of the new JCW Minis, given a guided lap, and then released to do five more spirited laps with each car. It was a fun and exciting morning exercise and we'll save the detailed experience for another story. After a break for lunch, we were off to drive our non-JCW Minis again.
The countryside drive
We were given the checkpoint stops heading to our destination in Khao Yai, about 140 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. Knowing that we'd go through not-so-urban roads and it was quite a long drive, we chose to drive the Aceman SE.
After 72 kilometers of driving from the race track, we made a quick break to charge the cars at a nearby station with fast DC chargers which took about 15-20 minutes. Frankly, we weren't expecting much more than a spirited drive with the Aceman SE through highways and mountain roads with Southeast Asian scenery.
But boy, were we surprised when the scenery started changing from a charming cafe made of bricks and wood that fit right in the European countryside to even more scenic views at the Muak Lek Reservoir, where the road was carved on a mountainside with the river on the opposite side. There, we knew the drive started getting better.
After a brief stop, we were then off to our next destination. Upon arriving at Baan Tha Rit Viewpoint, we were greeted by an even more scenic view and goats! Thais refer to the place as their version of New Zealand. There were herds of goats and a scenic view of Pa Sak River in the background. Some of us were busy playing with the goats, while others admired the scenery and took photos.
Before it got dark, we set off for Khao Yai National Park, which offered even more scenery and nice winding roads along the way.
Overall, the Aceman SE drove well, and we mostly kept the driving mode on "Core" as we wanted to enjoy the scenery and preserve our sanity. With "Go-Kart Mode" switched on, it activates a more sensitive accelerator pedal, stiffer steering feel, sportier ambient lighting, and performance-oriented instrumentation on the round OLED center display.
Both cars offered the same performance thanks to the same motor and battery pack, with speed topping out at 170km/h. Overtaking slower cars was no problem at all thanks to the electric powertrain which gives torque on demand. Stopping power was more than adequate for these road rockets.
The lighter 3-door Cooper SE had a slight edge in acceleration and cornering being 100kg lighter and having a lower center of gravity and shorter wheelbase by about 200mm. However, you end up with less comfort as not all roads are completely smooth; I would have to say that the Thai countryside roads in Saraburi we drove on were relatively well-maintained despite being outside the city center.
The Aceman SE, despite being taller, was no slouch on the corners even with the evident body roll compared to the Cooper, especially with Go-Kart Mode on. It presented itself as a more practical version if you have a family or are approaching middle age. It's a fun car you can drive every day and go on countryside road trips without worrying about straining your back and not having enough cargo space.
Back to Bangkok
Like almost everything in life, all good things come to an end, and our last day involved a spirited drive back to the city center using the less scenic route. We had our very own experience of the Bangkok jam at midday. The journey was pleasant; we didn't encounter any untoward incidents, and the drive was splendid. The traffic was less than desirable, but we still managed to make it back in three hours with a few detours.
Mini's transition to electric vehicles appears to be well-executed. The brand's signature driving dynamics are preserved, even if the auditory experience is altered. Despite their Chinese production by Spotlight Automotive, the new Minis display a level of build quality that's pleasantly surprising, and possibly superior to past models. We await extensive local road testing before reaching a conclusive judgement.
