I didn’t think it was possible to come up with another variant of the MINI but here we are once again with a new model. This time, it’s the 2013 MINI Paceman, which is basically the coupe version of the MINI Countryman. Not including the special editions, the 2013 Paceman is the eighth variant of the MINI Cooper. The MINI Paceman Concept originally made its debut back in 2011 at the Detroit Motor Show.
The 2013 MINI Paceman is about an inch shorter in length compared to the MINI Countryman. The vehicle also has a lower roof height by 31mm and ride height is lowered by 10mm which helps in giving it a sportier look and feel. The designs of the Countryman and Paceman are similar but the new model receives longer front doors, more muscular rear fenders, and completely different taillights to differentiate the models.
2013 MINI Cooper Paceman
On the interior, the Paceman is able to seat four people and the rear seats are individual rather than a bench. The hatch area provides 11.65 cubic feet of cargo space but can be increased to 38 cubic feet if the rear seats are folded down. The bigger sister, Countryman, offers 12.36 cubic feet and 41.32 cubic feet respectively.
According to MINI, the re-tuned suspension and lowered chassis will provide the Paceman a sportier ride than the Countryman.
There is no word yet on the North American models but the Europeans will have four engines to choose from. For customers who prefer petrol engines, the MINI Cooper Paceman will be available in 1.6-liter producing a 119 horsepower and the same engine available in the Cooper S Paceman which will deliver 181 horsepower. The one thing that surprises me is that the regular Cooper Paceman has a fuel economy of 39.2mpg while the more powerful Cooper S Paceman is almost as efficient, at 38.6mpg. And of course, the Cooper S Paceman can do the 0-100km/h (0-62mph) dash in 7.5 seconds, a much faster time compared to the 10.4 seconds of the non ‘S’ model.
For those who prefer diesel, there is an option of a 1.6-liter producing 110 horsepower for the Cooper D Paceman or the 2.0-liter in the Cooper SD Paceman model. The smaller diesel engine has excellent fuel economy and can deliver 53.5mpg while the 2.0-liter model delivers 51.1mpg, almost as impressive.
All the Paceman models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and an optional six-speed automatic transmission is available. The non-‘S’ models are front-wheel drive but can be equipped with Minis ALL-4 all-wheel drive system as an option. The MINI Paceman will hit the show room floors in March of next year with prices starting at £18,970 (approx $30,774 USD).
