MINI Paceman coupe leaked
Official images of the MINI Paceman have been leaked ahead of the coupe's Paris Motor Show debutThese are the first camouflage-free photos of the new MINI Paceman crossover coupe, which is expected to be priced under $40,000 when it arrives in Australian dealerships from March 2013.
Accidentally leaked by MINI Space, the digital sister publication of MINI's official magazine, these images have since been removed as they expose the Paceman's exterior design in full, revealing a sportier, sleeker version of the Countryman SUV.
Based on the same platform as MINI's Countryman, the Paceman moves the SUV in an altogether sportier direction, by lowering the car by 40mm, reducing weight by 20kg and delivering it in a coupe-like two-door form. Similar in execution to the Range Rover Evoque, which is selling like proverbial hotcakes, the MINI Paceman will appeal to buyers who like the idea of a MINI but want more room than the small-sized MINI Cooper hatch. And it could be a potential rival for the upcoming Porsche Macan.
We can tell from the low-res leaked images that MINI's designers have kept the front end of the Paceman similar to its Countryman cousin, with only minor tweaks to the detailing, while the car's sloping tailgate and stylised brake lights give the car a sportier outlook. The sporty theme is most obvious when viewed from the side - the MINI Paceman reveals a sporty silhouette courtesy of a narrowing window line and lower ride height.
Front- and all-wheel drive 'ALL4' versions will be available and power for the MINI Paceman will arrive in the form of tried-and-tested 1.6-litre petrol engines, outputting 135kW/240Nm in the S models, which should allow the coupe to acceleration from 0-100km/h in around 7.5 seconds. Up-spec JCW versions are also likely and could output as much as 160kW/280Nm, which should be a formidable match with an AWD powertrain, as we discovered driving the brand-new MINI Countryman JCW.
Diesel versions of the MINI Paceman will also be offered, the 'SD' model topping the turbodiesel range with a 2.0-litre 105kW/305Nm engine. Lesser models will include 90kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrol and 82kW/270Nm 1.6-litre turbodiesel engines.
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