Leaked images show the Aceman remains remarkably true to the funky concept we first saw in 2022, and it’s also reassuringly small, being only 192mm longer, 23mm wider and 130mm taller than the Cooper hatchback.

Power will come from a single motor at the front axle, with an output of either 181bhp or 215bhp. A John Cooper Works (JCW) range-topper is also expected, with a performance-inspired makeover and chassis tweaks.

First look at new Mini Aceman ahead of April debut

Smart #5 concept

Smart’s largest model to date is a Volvo XC40-sized electric crossover with a chunky, square profile.

It’s understood to use the same SEA platform as its smaller siblings, the the #1 and #3, but upgraded to run on an 800V electrical architecture rather than the 400V used by those EVs. That brings a signifcant boost to charging speeds.

It will be unveiled in production form later this year, ahead of a UK launch in early 2025.

Smart #5 concept previews rapid-charging electric 4×4

Volkswagen concept car

VW has announced it will show off a new concept car at Beijing, aimed at providing its Chinese-market cars with more visual flair than its existing EVs. It appears to be a sleek coupé-SUV with a rakish windscreen and prominent haunches over the wheels.

Volkswagen to show new EV design language with Beijing concept

Zeekr Mix

This or a Volkswagen ID Buzz? Revealed in a batch of Chinese regulatory filings, the Mix is one of a quintet of models that three-year-old Zeekr is set to launch in the UK as part of a broader push into right-hand-drive markets by parent firm Geely, which also owns Volvo and Lotus.

Expected to officially make its debut in Beijing, it will receive a battery developed in a partnership between CATL and Geely – likely the 86kWh pack used by the Zeekr 001, which is equipped with 800V hardware for 360kW charging. In engineering terms, it has been developed in tandem with the Smart #5, which will also be revealed at Beijing.