Photo: Autoblog
The MINI brand was known for just one model before BMW got involved. The takeover that took place in 2002 was the breath of fresh air that the British manufacturer was waiting for. Since then, 9 new models were created and now the MINI name is even more dearly embraced all over the world.
One of their latest models is the Paceman. Most people will just say that this car is just another marketing scheme to sell more MINIs under a new name. The thing is though that it's something brand new, built for a brand new niche.
It appeals to a more style-conscious shopper, according to MINI representatives, and it fits in perfectly between the Cooper and the Countryman. This new breed has a new kind of DNA and will have to face a wide array of competitors, from the Nissan Juke to the Range Rover Evoque.
The guys over at Autoblog had the chance to test a MINI Cooper S Paceman for a couple of days in order to convince themselves that this car lives up to the hype. The Cooper S Paceman has a 1.6-liter turbo in-line 4-cylinder engine with 184 HP and 240 Nm of torque and a 6-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.
The first thing they noticed was that the overall feeling of the car stays true to the go-kart feel the MINI Cooper has. It is sporty and agile on the road, a definite plus for the Paceman. Even though the car weighs 1480 kg, it doesn't feel that heavy thanks to the new, excellently tuned suspension setup. It really does well to convince you that it's a lot smaller than thought.
The 4WD is noticeable, especially on tight turns. The slightest touch of the acceleration pedal will make you feel how the rear axle is pushing forward. The Paceman truly is a 2+2, the backseat having enough room to accommodate 2 people with no problems whatsoever.
Pricing for this car starts at $29.200 in the US, which is perfect, considering the Nissan Juke starts at around $20,000 dollars but doesn't come close to the Paceman, while the Range Rover Evoque starts at $42,040 which is just too much.
The MINI and BMW brands have always been known to fill up niches as soon as they open up. Hopefully this will be the case with MINI's new model.
It appeals to a more style-conscious shopper, according to MINI representatives, and it fits in perfectly between the Cooper and the Countryman. This new breed has a new kind of DNA and will have to face a wide array of competitors, from the Nissan Juke to the Range Rover Evoque.
The guys over at Autoblog had the chance to test a MINI Cooper S Paceman for a couple of days in order to convince themselves that this car lives up to the hype. The Cooper S Paceman has a 1.6-liter turbo in-line 4-cylinder engine with 184 HP and 240 Nm of torque and a 6-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.
The first thing they noticed was that the overall feeling of the car stays true to the go-kart feel the MINI Cooper has. It is sporty and agile on the road, a definite plus for the Paceman. Even though the car weighs 1480 kg, it doesn't feel that heavy thanks to the new, excellently tuned suspension setup. It really does well to convince you that it's a lot smaller than thought.
The 4WD is noticeable, especially on tight turns. The slightest touch of the acceleration pedal will make you feel how the rear axle is pushing forward. The Paceman truly is a 2+2, the backseat having enough room to accommodate 2 people with no problems whatsoever.
Pricing for this car starts at $29.200 in the US, which is perfect, considering the Nissan Juke starts at around $20,000 dollars but doesn't come close to the Paceman, while the Range Rover Evoque starts at $42,040 which is just too much.
The MINI and BMW brands have always been known to fill up niches as soon as they open up. Hopefully this will be the case with MINI's new model.
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