A first official look at the production Mini Paceman - which will formally debut in Paris this month.
We thought we’d have to wait for its official debut, scheduled for the end of the month at the Paris Motor Show, but Mini is weighing in with a new image and a lot more detail about the all-new Paceman model it has dubbed its first Sports Activity Coupe.
The Paceman is, as the name implies, a three-door spin-off of the Countryman, itself Mini’s first all-wheel-drive offering and its biggest model ever. Long-rumored and initially denied, the British maker finally confirmed the production model during its “Mini Takes the States Tour” earlier this summer.
The overall look won’t come as a surprise to those familiar with Mini and, in particular, the Countryman. But it’s more than just a coupe version. The doors are stretched, of course, but the helmet-like roof now has a downward slope that is reminiscent of the smaller Mini Coupe. Perhaps the most distinctive design feature is the use of horizontal taillights for the first time by the brand.
Mini promises a “go kart feeling” to the drive. And it notes the all-wheel-drive package of the Countryman will be carried over as an option.
Also borrowed from the Countryman: the distinctively flexible Mini Center Rail storage system that can be adapted to a variety of needs with different holders and bins. The back seats, incidentally, can recline on the new Paceman.
The new 3-door will feature a lowered sports suspension though a standard ride height can be ordered as a no-cost option. The front suspension is a MacPherson Strut layout with a multi-link rear design.
Mini is only offering European specs, for now, and there motorists will have a choice of two gas and two diesel engines, power ranging from 112 to 184 horsepower. A 6-speed stick can be substituted for a 6-speed automatic. Promisingly, the maker reveals a John Cooper Works edition “is in the pipeline.”
We hope to have more details on the U.S. versions in the very near future but can guarantee we’ll also have more pics of the new Mini Paceman from the upcoming Paris Motor Show.