Can you see what they’ve done here? MINI have given us the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé in the premium small and compact vehicle segment. So it’s bigger than the MINI Cooper, but smaller than the Countryman, with a coupé vibe to boot! Arrives in SA next year!

Thumbnails below.

According to autocar.co.uk:

The Paceman aims to deliver a sportier drive than the Countryman while providing more space than the standard Mini hatch. The springs and shock absorbers have been retuned to offer more direct handling.

Lowered suspension is part of the Paceman’s standard specification, but the car can be ordered with regular suspension and ride height as a no-cost option.

It sits on the same floor structure as the Countryman and shares the five-door’s wheelbase and track. The four-seater’s roof is 40mm lower at 1518mm, but headroom is only reduced by 10mm, in part because it also rides 10cm closer to the ground than its bigger brother.

Boot space is 330 litres – about 20 litres down on the Countryman – increasing to 1080 litres when the rear seats are folded flat.

How rad is that? I saw this beast at the car show in Jozi earlier this year and it looked like a futuristic concept car. I can’t BELIEVE this think is in production!

I also summerised some more info I got from MINI:

MINI Paceman is the seventh model in the brand family and offers an innovative combination of sporty, extrovert design, hallmark MINI driving fun and an exclusive interior ambience; unique, yet typically MINI, vehicle concept opens up new target groups for the brand’s inimitable style; two doors, large tailgate, lounge concept with two individual seats in the rear.

Expressive, emotionally powerful body design with prominent horizontal lines and powerfully curved surfaces; dynamic proportions in hallmark MINI design language create superbly sporting impression; sporty and elegant appearance and powerful stature of the MINI Paceman symbolise the innovative combination of go-kart feeling on the road and enhanced versatility through optional all-wheel drive.

Upright front end exudes power and presence; hexagonal radiator grille with broad chrome surround, black bordering on the lower edge of the body and other typically MINI design elements with an individual touch; coupé-style stretched side profile with long doors, dynamically downward-sloping roofline and greenhouse tapering towards the rear; muscular flared wheel arches; distinctive helmet roof form adapted to the car’s coupé lines with integrated rear spoiler; roof can be specified in body colour, white or black; sloping rear window; rear lights in horizontal arrangement for the first time on a MINI.

Bespoke interior design creates typically MINI impression; powerfully formed, horizontally structured instrument panel with newly designed surrounds for the air vents; large circular Centre Speedo, also with new surround in black and decorative inner rings in high-gloss black or chrome; surrounds for the central control panel in a contrasting colour; window buttons arranged in the door panel trim; three-dimensional door ellipses reaching into the rear compartment (illumination optional).

Full-size individual seats in the rear offer high levels of comfort and lateral support, plus generous shoulder room and headroom; legroom optimised through cut-outs in the front seat backrests; integrated armrests in the rear side panel trim; two-section version of the MINI Centre Rail storage and attachment system comes as standard, full-length variant available as an option; variable use of space possible through individually folding rear seat backrests; load capacity: 330 – 1,080 litres.

· Particularly powerful engines and standard lowered sports suspension accentuate the trademark MINI go-kart feeling; two petrol engines offered from launch with output of 90 kW and 135 kW; MINI John Cooper Works Paceman version is in the pipeline; all variants come with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic as an option; MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system available for the MINI Cooper S Paceman; outstanding efficiency thanks to state-of-the-art powertrain technology and extensive
MINIMALISM technology fitted as standard; Sport Button available as an option.

· Sophisticated chassis technology featuring MacPherson spring struts and forged cross members at the front axle, a multi-link rear axle and 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); 17-inch light-alloy wheels as standard (MINI Cooper S Paceman 18-inch); 18-inch or 19-inch light-alloy wheels available as an option.

Outstanding occupant protection provided by 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 fitted as standard.

Array of standard equipment includes air conditioning, sports seats for driver and front passenger, Centre Rail and radio MINI Boost 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; 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.

Engine variants:
MINI Cooper S Paceman:

Four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,

Output: 135 kW at 5,500 rpm,

Max. torque: 240 Nm at 1,600 – 5,000 rpm (260 Nm with overboost).
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 7.5 seconds (automatic: 7.8 seconds),
Top speed: 217 km/h (212 km/h).

MINI Cooper Paceman:

Four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
Output: 90 kW at 6,000 rpm,
Max. torque: 160 Nm at 4,250 rpm.
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 10.4 seconds (automatic: 11.5 seconds),
Top speed: 192 km/h (184 km/h).

Nicely! Check out www.mini.co.za to see the full MINI vibe.

While you’re there, have a squizz at the MINI Coupé Roadster (JCW) I just ordered my new one!

Remember I’ll sort you out with special service and discount if you want