MINI reveals hottest Paceman

Faster, stronger, lower and angrier, the new Paceman John Cooper Works is still unmistakably a MINI.

The JCW version of MINI's newest model won't officially be seen until the Detroit motor show in January, but we have the full details of the 226km/h powerhouse already.

MINI might have lifted its standard architecture a bit higher to create the two-door Paceman crossover, but it's lowered it again by 10mm to create the fastest version of the all-wheel drive Paceman.

If that seems a bit paradoxical, the rest of the two-door makes more sense. With no more weight than the standard MINI Cooper S Paceman, the latest JCW delivers 160kW of power and up to 300Nm of torque.

MINI claims it has strengthened and lightened the pistons inside the 1.6-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder alloy engine, freed up the air intakes and fitted a sportier exhaust to make more urge.

While its standard torque of 280Nm arrives in a flat line from 1900 to 5000rpm, that can be over-boosted to 300Nm between 2100 and 4500rpm for a few seconds at a time.

It will continue to rev beyond its 6000rpm power peak, redlining at around 6500rpm, according to MINI sources.

With its electro-magnetic all-wheel drive system in place and feeding its drive through the standard six-speed manual gearbox, that's enough to hurl the high-riding Paceman JCW to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds.

Besides being quickish, it is also relatively economical, posting a 7.4L/100km figure on the combined European cycle.

It should handle with more alacrity than the Cooper S version, thanks to revised springs and dampers and a thicker, stronger anti-roll bar. It rides on standard 18-inch alloy wheels too, though 19-inch wheels are an option.

Inside, expect a very similar interior to most MINIs, though there are four individual seats rather than a rear bench.

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