Autocar July 27, 2022

OUR WORLD exclusive TVR story this week sets out its bold plans to launch not one but three electric models – a sports car, saloon and SUV – all while finally putting its Griffith sports car into production. We’ve heard promises of new models before, of course. The reborn Griffith was revealed in 2017 but a factory to produce it has yet to emerge, let alone a customer car. So news of anything in the medium-or long-term future must be met with a degree of caution until a Griffith is in the hands of a customer. Let’s fast forward and assume (hope) that day comes. What of this week’s news? Are things different this time? Can we really see TVR’s future plans and launches as ones they can pull off? TVR says it…

OUR WORLD exclusive TVR story this week sets out its bold plans to launch not one but three electric models – a sports car, saloon and SUV – all while finally putting its Griffith sports car into production. We’ve heard promises of new models before, of course. The reborn Griffith was revealed in 2017 but a factory to produce it has yet to emerge, let alone a customer car. So news of anything in the medium-or long-term future must be met with a degree of caution until a Griffith is in the hands of a customer. Let’s fast forward and assume (hope) that day comes. What of this week’s news? Are things different this time? Can we really see TVR’s future plans and launches as ones they can pull off?…

The Mini Aceman concept will evolve into a new compact electric crossover at the end of 2024 to fill the gap between the flagship Mini hatch and the mid-sized Countryman. It uses a stretched version of the all-new Spotlight architecture that is being developed jointly by BMW and Chinese partner firm Great Wall and will form the basis for the next-generation electric Mini hatchback. Although Mini says it is a pure concept, it isn’t very far from the car that will arrive in dealerships in two years’ time. Mini has not given any clues to the likely battery sizes or potential range of the final production version of the Aceman. However, the Spotlight-based EV hatchback will come as a 181bhp Cooper with an approximately 40kWh battery and a 221bhp Cooper…

The Mini Aceman concept will evolve into a new compact electric crossover at the end of 2024 to fill the gap between the flagship Mini hatch and the mid-sized Countryman. It uses a stretched version of the all-new Spotlight architecture that is being developed jointly by BMW and Chinese partner firm Great Wall and will form the basis for the next-generation electric Mini hatchback. Although Mini says it is a pure concept, it isn’t very far from the car that will arrive in dealerships in two years’ time. Mini has not given any clues to the likely battery sizes or potential range of the final production version of the Aceman. However, the Spotlight-based EV hatchback will come as a 181bhp Cooper with an approximately 40kWh battery and a 221bhp Cooper S with a…

Would you agree that the Aceman concept is quite a departure from the Mini as BMW has defined the brand over the past 21 years? “The design target was to give this concept some edge, not try to make it too cute. I wanted something fresh and bold, within certain boundaries.” What does the Aceman tell us about the future Mini family? “Each member of the Mini family will have its own character. There will be a new [design] step for the hatchback and the Countryman will be remade for the third generation. I wanted to extend the [design] bandwidth of the Mini brand. “There’s no grille on this EV and other traditional details such as the standout door handles have gone. There will be new iconic elements [for the future Mini family] and…

Would you agree that the Aceman concept is quite a departure from the Mini as BMW has defined the brand over the past 21 years? “The design target was to give this concept some edge, not try to make it too cute. I wanted something fresh and bold, within certain boundaries.” What does the Aceman tell us about the future Mini family? “Each member of the Mini family will have its own character. There will be a new [design] step for the hatchback and the Countryman will be remade for the third generation. I wanted to extend the [design] bandwidth of the Mini brand. “There’s no grille on this EV and other traditional details such as the standout door handles have gone. There will be new iconic elements [for the future…