Autoblog

2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman All4

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Mini, Quick Spins

In just over a decade, Mini has expanded its modern range from the singular Hardtop model (launched in 2002) to a full range of little runabouts. The latest of these is the Paceman, and while European Editor Matt Davis gave us the full scoop on this model late last year, we recently spent time with the all-wheel-drive model just outside of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

It's weird, this Paceman. It slots in between the Hardtop and the Countryman (on which its based) in terms of size and functionality, and Mini says that it will appeal to a more style-conscious shopper. Key competitors range anywhere from the Nissan Juke on the low end to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque on the high end.

After spending lots of time with the Countryman, we're convinced that maxi can still be Mini. And the same is true with this Paceman, too.

Driving Notes

The Paceman rides on the same platform as the Countryman, and from the A pillar forward, it's identical. That includes all versions of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which range from the 121-horsepower Cooper spec up to the 208-hp John Cooper Works that was introduced in Detroit last month. Our Cooper S model with 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque falls right in the middle, and just like in the Countryman, it's a good pairing.
What we don't love is the six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. In the hills of Puerto Rico, the trans often struggled to keep us in the right gear, and the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters don't provide much in the way of engagement. Opting for the six-speed manual transmission will solve all of these problems, but we wish a proper dual-clutch setup were offered here for people who don't want to row their own.
Unsurprisingly, the Paceman drives exactly like the Countryman. That is, the steering is, for the most part, direct, though putting the car in Sport mode adds a false sense of involvement to the rack. Basically, it just feels heavier, not more engaging. But we're happy to report that the usual go-kart driving aspects have not been lost on this portly hatchback. The Paceman performed exactly how we expected. (That's a good thing.)
She's a heavy girl, though - 3,260 pounds here in Cooper S All4 spec. That weight is indeed noticed when you're hustling it through turns, though the excellent suspension setup and good steering feedback do a lot to convince you that the car's a lot smaller than it is.
We like the implementation of All4 in the Mini, and we could really feel it working as we wound the car around the twists and turns of Puerto Rico. Give the car a boost of throttle in a turn and you can actually feel the rear wheels working to propel the car forward with poise.
Inside, the front cabin hasn't changed from the larger Countryman, though new for the 2013 model year are the addition of window toggle switches on the doors. We're happy to have them in the correct place, though we'll admit to occasionally reaching toward the center stack to roll the windows up and down. Creatures of habit, we are.
The rear seats are perfectly spacious, though the more rakish roofline of the Paceman does cut into passenger headroom a bit. What's more, the bench seat option from the Countryman has not carried over to the Paceman, meaning you get two chairs and a center rail back there.
Pricing for the All4 starts at $29,200, excluding $700 for destination. But like all Minis, things escalate quickly, and you can very easily wind up with a nearly $45,000 example.
We'll be interested to see who actually buys the Paceman when it goes on sale next month. It seems like a weird niche to fill, but as we reported earlier this week, if there's a gap in the market, no matter how small, Mini will fill it. But as long as the products don't ruin everything we like about the brand, we don't suppose that's a bad thing.

2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman All4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Mini Paceman is a good answer to a question nobody asked

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:21:00 EST

Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mini

Look, much as we like the Mini Countryman - we did spend a year with one, after all - we find it hard to believe that people are clamoring for a less-functional version of it. That said, we had our doubts about the four-door Countryman, and it turned out to be a pretty sweet, if pricey, little package.

So, the Paceman. It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect - offered in base and S versions, with naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine, respectively. And like the Countryman, if you want All4 all-wheel drive, you'd better want the turbo. Mini is said to be working on a John Cooper Works version of its new three door as well, falling in line with the recently introduced JCW Countryman.

European Paceman models (Pacemen?) will be offered with a choice of two diesel powerplants, and six-speed transmissions are found throughout the entire powertrain range in both manual and automatic forms.

Specific design cues that differentiate the Paceman from its Countryman brethren include a sloping roofline and redesigned rump, new interior details like awesome plaid seat inserts (check them out in our gallery) and window switches placed on the doors rather than the center console that give the car a slight dose of uniqueness, and a bit of welcomed rationality to the controls.

That said, it'll always be a two-door Countryman to us, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Scroll down for all the deets.

Continue reading 2013 Mini Paceman is a good answer to a question nobody asked

2013 Mini Paceman is a good answer to a question nobody asked originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Paceman debuts online, this time for real

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Crossover, Mini, UK

No more cleverly arranged leaks, this is the real thing: official info on the Mini Paceman and enough photos to choke Getty Images. More than merely a Countryman sans two doors, the Paceman is restylized with a sloping roof, horizontal taillights, it sits lower and gets sleek rear glass over pronounced haunches to play up its much sportier intentions. Anyone who wants a high-riding Paceman, however, can opt for the standard ride-height at no cost.

The inside's been fiddled with as well, the Paceman being the first Mini to have power window buttons on the doors instead of the toggles on the central console. There are two back seats, not a bench, with integrated armrests and Mini's Center Rail system for holding things. The seats can be folded down to triple the available load space.

Four versions are on the way when it goes on sale in the UK in March, 2013, each with its own engine: the 122-horsepower Paceman with a 1.6-liter gas engine, the 112-hp D Paceman and 143-hp SD Paceman with 1.6-liter diesels, and the S Paceman that uses the gas 1.6-liter but gets 184-hp. The S model will dash from naught to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds, three seconds faster than the standard Paceman for a penalty of less than one imperial mile per gallon. The John Cooper Works version in development should do even better, at least as far as speed is concerned. Gear changes will be via the six-speed manual as standard fitment, or a six-speed automatic if so desired. The ALL4 system is available on all models save the base car.

Just six months away from hitting showroom floors in the UK, the Paceman will run £18,970 ($30,727 U.S.) on the road. There's a press release below and that colossal image gallery above.

Continue reading Mini Paceman debuts online, this time for real

Mini Paceman debuts online, this time for real originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini previews Paceman with new 'spy shots'

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Mini

Look at this: Mini has posted official 'spy shots' of the 2013 Paceman to its Facebook page. Cheeky Germans.

As we know, the Paceman is coming early next year as a late-to-market 2013 model. Despite reports that Mini would be dropping the catchy name that christened its original concept in favor of the more literal Countryman Coupe moniker, none other than Dr. Kay Segler, senior vice president of Mini brand management has gone on record saying that the Paceman name is for real.

Also for real is the rest of the Paceman concept's design, starting with the rear-slanting roofline, which strikes us as a better-executed take on the Mini Cooper Coupe design. In fact, to our eyes, the entire back half of the Paceman looks better proportioned and more Mini-like than the awkwardly large Countryman.

Be sure to check out all the high-res images of the mildly disguised Paceman in our gallery.

Mini previews Paceman with new 'spy shots' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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