BMW and MINI are going to next year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), and their presence there promises to be one of the most exciting on the show's floor. BMW will bring its usual suspects to the US, while MINI plans not to show, but to impress, too.
To celebrate ten years since its first appearance at the NAIAS event, MINI has come up with perhaps the most BMW-inspired concept it has ever created (in terms of strange design lines, at least). Enter the MINI Paceman Concept, a model BMW calls the first Sports Activity Coupe in the premium segment.
The model is, if you like, nothing more than the coupe version of the MINI Countryman. Using the same platform, the model comes with quite a different visual interpretation, increased ground clearance and raised seating position.
“In contrast to the more vertical design of the MINI Countryman, we’ve given the MINI Paceman Concept a horizontal emphasis and accentuated the width of the car rather more,” said Marcus Syring, MINI Exterior Design head.
Aimed at “young, modern, extrovert urbanites,” the model is powered by a MINI John Cooper Works 1.6l twin-scroll turbocharged engine which develops 211 hp and 260 Nm of torque. The car also features the MINI ALL4 permanent all-wheel-drive system.
Although not using these words exactly, a production version of the Paceman concept has been confirmed by BMW and MINI. The Paceman could, says BMW, become another building block for the company.
autoevolution will be attending the 2011 North American International Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions.
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