At this year’s North American International Auto Show, MINI is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the brand’s revival and re-launch in the U.S. market. To mark the occasion, the automaker unveiled today the Paceman Concept, and also confirmed that it will spawn a production model in the very near future.
“I’m thrilled to tell you now, for the very first time, that there will be a seventh member of the MINI family – and we will base it on this concept”, said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, during MINI’s press conference at the Detroit motorshow.
2010 was the most successful sales year in MINI’s history, with the British firm delivering some 234,000 units worldwide. Not surprisingly, the BMW Group-owned company wants to build on this success, by further expanding its model line-up.
Currently, the automaker offers four models (Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman and Countryman), which will be joined by the Coupe in late 2011, and the Roadster in 2012. The series-production Paceman will follow shortly after, essentially creating the first crossover coupe in the premium small car segment.
The concept model is based on the MINI Countryman and it uses the 211 hp 1.6-liter John Cooper Works turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Power is transferred to the wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and MINI's ALL4 all-wheel drive system.
“This car captures the typical MINI characteristics – unique design, clever functionality and signature driving fun - with a new level of agility. It combines an athletic, masculine coupé appearance with the dimensions of the MINI Countryman”, Mr. Robertson commented.
By Csaba Daradics
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9 Comments:
this, the hotter than hot'12 honda civic coupe and sedan and chrysler 300 are the best thus far :0)
SOLD! This Honda owner will add this to our family. A three car garage is great.
sweet from every angle. this blows nearly everything else out of the water, just like the civic. watched the show clips all day and am excited about many offerings this auto show season. the color of the mini is pristine. do not like the orange on some of the concepts. chrysler got the colors down - like the gray called billet and dark blackberry, the blue on the passat, the silvery-white of civic sedan, etc. i own a red 2011 jeep grand cherokee overland, but the green on this mini cooper would look equally appealing on an suv, like the jeep 4X4. listening chrysler?
I just found the replacement for my '03 Cooper!
I like the exterior a great deal. Hopefully BMW/Mini will
make the interior MORE BMW like in terms of comfort & ergonomics. I've never been able to comfortably sit in a mini or achieve proper seat adjustment. Keep the Mini character of course however GREATLY IMPROVE the interior comfort level and I would consider purchasing this vehicle.
It'll go down well in the US then? Personally, I think it's another ugly, bloated and a deeply cynical design lacking any innovation from the Germans, but hey, that's just me...
^I agree,it does look rather puffy,but kudos to the designer responsible for the paint and trim choices.I love the finish on this concept,absolutely stunning.
What's with all this 'KUDOS' recently? Someone's been flicking through their Concise English Dictionary!
seems to me BMW is afraid to re-design MINI... I don't think the original Mini was intended to look the same ...the MINI's emulation of the old Mini in terms of look was great and set a precedence ...I'm not a MINI follower but I've always admired the design, but I would like to see some concepts deviate from the current shape ....
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