FREE LOOK

For those folks, the Mini Cooper Paceman is on the way to U.S. shores in short order after its debut in production trim at the 2012 Paris auto show. Its the brands seventh model, and according to Mini PR chief Andreas Lampka, it was always in the cards. Its also the second Mini available with the brands All4 all-wheel-drive system. Mini Cooper Paceman Headlight Minis trademark bulldog stance, with massive headlights, strong shoulders, and short overhangs, is predictably a big part of the Pacemans look. Its side profile, however, is where youll notice its transformation from four doors to two. Everything from the A-pillar back is all new and specific to the model. The roof has a 4-degree slope that ends at a standard-issue spoiler. A sharp character line on each door leads into the 17-wheels (18- and 19-inchers are optional) to emphasize the cars length. And for the first time on a Mini, designers have implemented horizontal LED taillamps and an XL-size badge to accentuate its width.

Despite all the visual length and width tricks, dimensionally the Paceman is nearly identical to its Countryman sibling. Overall length is the same at 161.7 inches, while width is down by 0.1 inch to 70.4. The height has been shortened by 1.7 inches to 59.7. Not surprisingly, its some 44 pounds lighter than a similarly equipped Countryman. It also sits 0.4 inches closer to the ground. Mini Cooper Paceman Rear Cabin Space Cabin dimensions havent been disclosed, but Lampka insists the only major differences are at the rear, where rear headroom is cut by 0.4 inches and cargo capacity drops to 15.8 cu-ft. During our recent prototype drive in Malaga, Spain, headroom wasnt a problem. We couldnt tell you about cargo room, though it did look tight back there. Mini Cooper Paceman Seats Down Much like the exterior, the Pacemans interior includes a few significant departures from the Mini norm. It seems engineers listened to the flood of consumer (and auto journalist) complaints and moved the Pacemans center dash mirror adjustments, window switches, and door-lock buttons to where they should be: on the doors. All other dashboard and center console details are similar to those in the Countryman. Matte Carbon Black, high-gloss black, or optional chrome plastic surround the vents, dash, and lower center console. The requisite variable colored lighting, Mini Connected system, navigation, and harman/kardon stereo are options, while standard features like the Center Rail system (in one- or two-piece forms) remain. Diagonal track cloth arrives with the base asking price, and a variety of leather options can be specified

Nothing has changed under the hood. The Paceman gets Minis familiar 1.6-liter four-cylinder for the base and S editions, with the same 121- or 181-horse output depending on trim. Torque remains at 114 lb-ft for the base model, while the twin-scroll turbocharged S touts 177 lb-ft of pull (192 lb-ft in overboost). Each engine has a Getrag six-speed manual or Aisin six-speed auto attached. Paddles come standard in S models, optional on all others; same goes for the Sport button. Mini Cooper Paceman Front Three Quarters A Countryman variant isnt a Countryman variant without ALL4 all-wheel drive, so engineers made sure to make it available on the S model. ALL4 can send up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels, and in extreme low-grip situations, that can be upped to 100 percent. Minis full barrage of drive-safe nanny technologies - Dynamic Stability Control, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist and Hill Assist - comes standard, as does a plethora of airbags. During our prototype drive we were surprised at how well the Paceman carried its relatively hefty mass around Malagas tight bends. Its not as nimble as the base Mini, and the car we drove had an emissions testing calibration that restricted its performance, but the Paceman still invigorated the senses and enticed a smile. That bodes well for this seventh edition, but until we take delivery of one at MT HQ, well have to wait and see if this niche-filler does indeed fill the mini-est of voids.