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NEWS
PARIS MOTOR SHOW: MINI presents Paceman
MINI reveals its three-door Countryman crossover-coupe, the Paceman, ahead of its Paris debutMINI has revealed full details and first official images of what it describes as the world’s first premium compact Sports Activity Coupe, the Paceman.
Essentially a three-door version of the Countryman crossover, the Paceman will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in two weeks and is due on sale in Australia from March, priced slightly higher than the existing Countryman five-door.
Pricing for the larger Countryman was slashed by up to $5200 in March this year in an attempt to stir slow sales, with the entry-level front-drive 1.6-litre petrol model now starting $4000 lower than before at $33,700 plus on-road costs (just $2000 more than the three-door MINI hatch), making the Paceman pricing likely to start at around $35,000.
Seven Paceman models will be offered in Europe, with a John Cooper Works version to join the recently launched Countryman JCW at a later date, each matched to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
In Australia, expect the Paceman line-up to reflect that of the Countryman, including front-drive 1.6-litre petrol, 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 1.6-litre turbodiesel variants, plus all-wheel drive ‘ALL4’ versions powered by the same three engines, and a more powerful 2.0-litre diesel for SD and automatic D models. The latter will offer the same 105kW/305Nm as in the Countryman, while the 1.6 D will produce 82kW/270Nm, the turbo-petrol S will offer 135kW/240Nm and the base 1.6 will output 90kW/160Nm.
As in other MINIs, Cooper S Paceman models will come with an overboost function that liberates 260Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500rpm for a short time, enabling them to sprint to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds (7.8 seconds for the auto) and a 217km/h top speed (auto: 212km/h). Fuel consumption is listed at 6.1L/100km (auto: 7.1L/100km).
Base petrol models will be somewhat slower, accelerating to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds (auto: 11.5 seconds), and no more efficient, at 6.0L/100km (auto: 7.2L/100km). The MINI Cooper D is the most efficient Paceman, at 4.4L/100km (auto: 5.6L/100km), and accelerates to 100km/h in 10.8 seconds (auto: 11.2 seconds)
Based on the same platform as the Countryman, the four-seater Paceman shares the five-door’s wheelbase and wheel tracks but is 40mm lower at 1518mm and can swallow 20 litres less cargo at 330 litres, expanding to 108 with the rear seats folded. Because its suspension is lower and firmer, however, headroom is just 10mm less than in the Countryman.
While the 20kg-lighter Paceman will be available – at least in Europe - with standard suspension and ride height, it is designed to offer sharper handling dynamics than the Countryman, as well as more interior space than the three-door MINI hatch.
As such, MacPherson front spring-struts, a multi-link rear axle, electric power steering and DSC electronic stability control will be standard across the range, while Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) will be standard in the MINI Cooper S Paceman, MINI Cooper SD Paceman and MINI Cooper D Paceman ALL4.
Those models will also come with 17-inch wheels, while other models ride on 16s, and 18- and 19-inch wheels will be optional across the range.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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