Paceman (Germany, 2011)

At the 2011 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, MINI celebrated the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of the brand with a new concept car: the Paceman. With this study vehicle MINI claimed it was creating a totally new category of car and that this concept would soon be joining the brand’s product portfolio.

Keeping MINI’s typical features in terms of handling, agility, dynamic capability and individual design, the Paceman concept adds to it a new twist. It combines a sporty, masculine appearance, versatility and coupe looks with the dimensions of the four-door MINI Countryman. In fact the most recent MINI model borrows its dimensions, increased ground clearance and raised seating position to the study vehicle, but leaves behind two of the doors. Instead it features two larger doors and a wide-opening tailgate.

MINI describes the Paceman concept as a Sports Activity Coupe. The concept car retains the familiar MINI family front end, but features a distinctive touch. It has large headlights with chrome surrounds that extend far into the front wings. They emphasize the car’s front end together with contoured bonnet. The front grille design is a large replication of the one featured in the MINI Cooper S Countryman. Still MINI added intakes in the lower section of the front bumper to ensure improved brake ventilation and deep-set foglamps in order to give the car a sporting edge. At the back the Paceman features newly designed rear lights that have been positioned at the outer edges of the rear and underline the dominance of horizontal lines in the concept car.

The MINI Paceman features large 19-inch wheels that have been designed exclusively for the study car and dark wheel arch borders with side skirts highlighted in the same colour. The classic MINI three-level split of roof, greenhouse and body is again clearly recognizable in this study vehicle.

Under the bonnet, the Paceman is powered by the most powerful drive unit currently available for a MINI: the MINI John Cooper Works 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine. The Paceman Concept produces 155 kW/211 hp of power and maximum torque of 260 Nm, which can be increased to 280 Nm in brief bursts thanks to the Overboost function.