Mini Paceman Photo Leaks Before Paris Unveil
By by Nick Kurczewski
Images of the Mini Paceman crossover have been leaked on the web ahead of the new crossover-coupe’s debut later this month at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. We got our first glimpse of the Paceman back in January 2011, when it appeared in concept form at that year’s Detroit Auto Show.
Judging from the images released by Mini aficionado site Motoringfile.com, the production model is almost identical to the version show in the Motor City.
Based on the same platform as the 4-door Mini Countryman, the Paceman does without rear doors and features a lower rear roofline than its SUV-lite sibling. It’s a unique shape and definitely as much about making a styling statement as it is a handier way to haul four people (and extra cargo) in a Mini-badged vehicle. (**Tastes are subjective, but I find it a lot more palatable than the slightly awkward and upright lines of the Countryman.)
In Detroit, the Paceman Concept was powered by a feisty 211-bhp 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 that came mated to Mini’s ALL4 permanent all-wheel-drive system. Expect the Paceman to share the same mechanicals with its Countryman cousin, meaning a choice of front or all-wheel-drive, along with a 121-bhp or optional turbocharged 181-bhp 1.6-liter inline-4. Pricing should be similar to the Countryman, which presently has a base price of $22,950 (including destination).
Read more from Road & Track:
2012 Hot Convertibles: 2012 Mini Roadster
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