Monday 10th September 2012

Mini Paceman images

For when you need a more practical Mini that's not quite a Countryman...

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Say hello next Mini niche-filler, the Paceman. Based on the five-door Countryman but with less practicality (owing to its lowered roof and 3 doors) and more expense (expect a price rise of around £1,250 for equivalent spec), it will extend the Mini range to an incredible seven models.

However, whilst it's easy to criticise Mini for exploiting their style-led customer base, these undisguised images show a far more attractive shape than the boxy, bloated Countryman.

Its appearance is more squat and purposeful, these attributes no doubt aided by its reduced ride height (around 10mm) over the five-door car. Moreover, the 'Paceman' script emblazoned across the bootlid appears to emphasise width; as an aesthetic piece, it just seems to work. Either that, or the Countryman and Coupe were so bad that even a slightly more appealing shape seems miles better.

In terms of engines and specifications, the Paceman will be offered with all the engines and trims available on the Countryman; ALL4 four-wheel-drive is standard on all cars. The Paceman will be around 20kg lighter than the equivalent Countryman.

So if you'd like the practicality compromises of a coupe in a much larger and heavier 4WD body and can't afford a BMW X6, it looks like the Mini Paceman could be just the car for you. Expect to see it debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month, with UK sales beginning in 2013.

[Fire99]

So it's a MINI Range Rover Evoque. One more leap away from the concept of a Mini.

[DanDC5]

Marketing lesson number 3 - 'If there isn't a gap in the market, create one....'

[Asterix]

How much are these things? About 12=15k?

[SHutchinson]

It's hideous and pointless. They'll sell millions.

[Bill]

The article said:

Either that, or the Countryman and Coupe were so bad that even a slightly more appealing shape seems miles better.

This. It's the turd polishing equivalent of a nose clip.

[simoid]

Asterix said:

How much are these things? About 12=15k?

The cheapest Mini hatch is more than £12k so you'd be lucky!

[diddly69]

Another one?!

[Civpilot]

simoid said:

Asterix said:

How much are these things? About 12=15k?

The cheapest Mini hatch is more than £12k so you'd be lucky!

Cheapest Countryman is £16.5k rising to over £23k for the top model (excluding any options).

So this 'thing' ain't going to be cheap...

[dylan39]

Bloody hideous!

[IWantAVolvo]

Roofline looks nice.

The rest is mingin'

[ScoobieWRX]

Fire99 said:

So it's a MINI Range Rover Evoque. One more leap away from the concept of a Mini.

+1 Very Evoque. I'd have thought BMW could do better and be more original. It does look like something JLR would create.

[bob1179]

Aren't these built in the UK?

If so, I say 'bring it on'. The more we can build and flog to the 'style conscious' around the world, the better. After all it means more jobs, more income and anything that can help the economy has to be a good thing.

[theJT]

Who keeps BUYING these things?

[PumpkinSteve]

Next up they'll make it a convertible, just to fill that gap in the market.

[Greg 172]

Um, is anyone else thinking that this is the roofline would have made the coupe look much better? Or am I starting to have problems with my eyes (and taste)?

[B10]

These are made in Austria alongside the Countryman.
Slug.

[Earl'Dingleberry]

The new winning formula for manufacturers:
1. Chop the roof
2. Slope the belt line "dramatically"
3. Stick on big alloys
4. ...Profit

[Twincam16]

theJT said:

Who keeps BUYING these things?

The sort of people who respond to marketing, use phrases like 'trending' and fan their faces when they get excited about trivial things.

[Asterix]

Civpilot said:

simoid said:

Asterix said:

How much are these things? About 12=15k?

The cheapest Mini hatch is more than £12k so you'd be lucky!

Cheapest Countryman is £16.5k rising to over £23k for the top model (excluding any options).

So this 'thing' ain't going to be cheap...

Bloody Hell! Never paid any attention to the price of these things, as you can tell - I thought they were runabout type money.

Certainly not the car for the masses the original was.

[soad]

diddly69 said:

Another one?!

How long before a cabrio comes along, then maybe a hardtop version of the cabrio, then a roadster version of the hardtop - you get the idea.