Mini Paceman

Mini has presented its latest model, the Paceman, as it ventures into a new vehicle class.

Appearing – almost to the millimeter, bar colour and trim detailing – to be the Paceman concept seen at NAIAS 2011 in Detroit, the Paceman Sports Activity Coupe features many traditional Mini design cues.

Where it moves away from them, it is in keeping the new-style squared off front lamps of the Countryman (with which it shares a front end up to the base of the windscreen) and a roofline which tapers down much more than we've seen in any previous ‘new' Mini before.

There's more of a rising shoulderline than we're used to as well, and the incline of the roofline cause the window surfaces to taper towards the rear. The rear lamps, for the first time in Mini history, are horizontal, designed to emphasize the car's width.

Inside, traditional design cues continue but with matt-finished, ring-shaped borders in Carbon Black highlighting the form of the (huge) Centre Speedo and the two air vents next to it.

It will be interesting to see how yet another addition to the ever-expanding Mini range fairs in the marketplace. It arguably creates yet another new niche segment - the closest competitor is perhaps the Nissan Juke. It's just a shame it doesn't appear to have any of the innovations that characterized the Rocketman concept, which we understand is unlikely to appear in production form.

Gallery: Mini Paceman

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