Patent Images of MINI Paceman Revealed

MINI basically confirmed the Paceman was going into production immediately after the concept was shown for the first time at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. The move was largely expected, as the carmaker almost never waists time to come up with a new design without putting it on the road, even if sometimes the brand does this in strictly limited numbers.

The patent images for the body of the car will ensure the Chinese will have a fight on their hands if they try to copy the shape, but what we’re interested in is how much the design has changed from the concept. The first computer rendering from MINI have now been revealed, thanks to the efforts of Carscoop, and we’re pleased to announced not much has changed.

The coupe crossover will stay true to the original lines. Basically, not a single line has been changed, so this will still be one of the most interesting and exciting models in its segment. It will have to be, because the Range Rover Evoque is gaining sales momentum fast and there’s plenty of new contenders down the road.

When it lands, expect the new MINI to feature a similar engine lineup to that of the Countryman, including both naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-liter units. A high-performance John Cooper Works model is almost a certainty.

Given the body of the car identical to that of the concept, and so much tech is shared with existing models, MINI’s reputation for fast turnaround on new cars will be kept intact. Expect to see the new coupe/crossover as early as next year’s Detroit Auto Show, which is less than half a year away. MINI’s model lineup is growing in leaps and bounds, isn’t it?