Skip to main content

Mini Paceman, the Countryman’s less ugly sister car, is now official and coming in March 2013

Mini Paceman FrontFashionable and funky, the new Mini is a global automotive sensation, and rightly so; it looks good, drives brilliantly and the build quality justifies its price. BMW had no intention of leaving the brand alone though, and has subsequently rolled out several variations on the theme, including the cool Rocketman and Clubvan concepts.

From those vehicles that have made it to dealer forecourts, the Countryman is perhaps the strangest. For a vehicle named Mini, it’s big, and despite good genes, it’s ugly too. Yes, it’s practical, but those are looks only a mother could love.

Recommended Videos

But the Countryman has been to the gym, grabbed itself some new threads, and hit the streets as the Mini Paceman, the latest Mini to be announced and a coupe version of the Countryman. It’s not the first time we’ve seen the Paceman, as it has been part of the company’s plan for a while, and several leaked shots have given us a basic idea of what it will look like.

Its Paris Motor Show debut is our first proper look though, as it’s obviously sans camouflage, and the press shots are suitably glossy.

Mini Paceman Top
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Let’s start from the top. The back-slanted roof that leads into a spoiler will be available in black, white or the same color as the body, and is attached to the car using black pillars to recreate the “floating roof” look seen on other models.

To further accentuate the coupe-look, the waistline curves up towards the roof at the rear of the car, and there are only two, long doors. The front is very similar to the Countryman, but there are plenty of changes around the back. Aside from the massive Mini badge and Paceman name tag, the car has been given horizontally-mounted lights — a first for the brand. The chrome surrounds won’t appeal to everyone, and the new light clusters do a good job of emphasizing the width of the car. Whether that’s a good or bad thing will depend on your taste.

The styling helps the Paceman look like less of a heffalump than the Countryman, but one has to question the practicality of a car this size with only two doors.

Mini Paceman Rear
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A choice of four engines will be available when the car goes on sale, starting with the 1.6 liter, 122 horsepower motor using either petrol or diesel, plus a 2.0 liter 143 horsepower diesel and finally, a 184bhp 1.6 liter petrol engine in the top-of-the-range Mini Cooper S Paceman. A John Cooper Works edition will join them in the future. Like the Countryman, Mini’s four-wheel drive will be an option, as will the company’s extensive range of customization options, plus the suspension has been tuned to offer sportier handling.

A US release hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the Paceman will hit UK showrooms on March 16 2013, and prices will start at £18,970, or around $30,900.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more