MINI has a habit of making all the concepts they come up with. So here’s the production version of the MINI Paceman, the two-door version of the Countryman. It is a little less practical than than the four-door version – itself not very good in that aspect – but it looks kinda cooler and sportier. MINI calls it a Sports Activity Coupe.
Compared to the Countryman, the Pacemen is lowered thanks to its sport suspension and depending on the model comes with 16 or 17-inch wheels. The Coupe-style body feature a sloping roofline and long doors, rear spoiler and flared wheelarches.
It’s a pretty sizable thing, but MINI maintains it will have the typical go-kart feeling all MINIs are blessed with.
The interior is business as usual, with a large circular Centre Speedo but with new surround in black and decorative inner rings in high-gloss black or chrome. It seats only four, because you get the stylish storage rail in the middle of the rear seats. It’s rather practical though, as all seats are full size, and the rear ones can be folded for a storage capacity from 330 to 1,080 litres.
As for the engines, the Paceman launches with two petrol and two diesel engines. The petrol range begins with a 1.6 liter petrol developing 122-hp and 118 lb-ft of torque. In the Cooper S you get a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection to generate maximum output of 135 kW/184 hp and 177 lb-ft.
The Cooper does 0 to 100 km/h in about 11 seconds and can only reach 180 km/h top speed. Th Cooper S is more tolerable with a 0-100 time of 7.5 seconds and top speed of 217 kmh.
Diesel engines include a 2.0 liter unit with 105 kW/143 hp and 225 lb-ft in the Cooper SD, and a 1.6 liter with 82 kW/112 hp and 199 lb-ft in the Cooper D. The SD does 61 mpg and the D 64 mpg.
MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system available for the MINI Cooper S Paceman, MINI Cooper SD Paceman and MINI Cooper D Paceman. There is also a John Cooper Works version in the works.
The Paceman features a host of electronic systems to make the job of driving easier. It gets Electric Power Steering with Servotronic function; Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as standard, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) including Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) optional (standard on the MINI Cooper S Paceman, MINI Cooper SD Paceman and MINI Cooper D Paceman ALL4); 16-inch light-alloy wheels as standard (MINI Cooper S Paceman and MINI Cooper SD Paceman: 17-inch);
In terms of equipments, the list of standard features include air conditioning, sports seats for driver and front passenger, Centre Rail and radio MINI CD; high-quality items of optional equipment and wide variety of individualisation options in typical MINI style; selection includes xenon Adaptive Headlights, rain sensor, Park Distance Control, Comfort Access, electrically operated glass roof and trailer coupling; large choice of exterior paint finishes, bonnet stripes, upholstery variants, interior surfaces and Colour Lines; MINI navigation system, harman/kardon hi-fi loudspeaker system and unique in-car infotainment functions available via MINI Connected.
And as for the safety features, you get crash-optimised body structure and extensive range of safety equipment; front and side airbags, side curtain airbags, three-point inertia-reel seat belts on all seats, belt tensioners and belt force limiters at the front, ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear and a run-flat indicator.
