MINI Family to Add a Paceman

Crossover Coupe Slated to Appear in 2013 as MINI Continues to Expand Lineup

HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 7, 2011 – MINI will soon have the crossover for those who want the capability of the MINI Countryman with two fewer doors. The British maker of pintsize vehicles recently gave the go-ahead for production of the MINI Paceman concept, which means a three-door-hatch version of the Countryman will be available at MINI dealerships sometime in 2013 as a 2014 model. 

While it may receive a name change before taking a bow at dealerships, the Paceman will be the seventh MINI model in showrooms, following the debut of the MINI Roadster in 2012 and the MINI Cooper Coupe this October. The Paceman is based on the same underpinnings as the MINI Countryman crossover, and will be produced in the same assembly plant in Graz, Austria. 

“If MINI keeps releasing cars at their current pace, we’re going to have to expand our showroom,” said Tim Parker, general manager of New Country MINI, a Hartford, Connecticut MINI dealer. “The Paceman packs the capability of the Countryman into a sportier package, which is the right recipe for a lot of Connecticut MINI fans that want a fun ride when the weather is cooperating and a trusty grip when it does not.”

Sharing running gear with the Countryman means the Paceman will have a solid base to build upon. As the only MINI car currently available with all-wheel drive, the Countryman is a change of pace compared to the rest of the lineup. While still small by most standards, the Countryman is the biggest of the MINI bunch, offering room for four adults. Cargo space is a healthy 41.3 cubic feet, which means there is plenty of room for camping gear or groceries. With its convenient hatch and its wheelbase, length and width identical to the Countryman, the Paceman should have similar space.

Power in the MINI Countryman is supplied by one of two 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, with the standard engine producing 121 horsepower and the turbocharged mill available in the S model delivering 181 horsepower. Both engines are available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic, but ALL4 all-wheel drive is available only with the turbocharged engine. While the Paceman is slated to have similar drivetrain options, it is also expected to come with the option of the juiced-up 208-horsepower engine found in the John Cooper Works models of the flagship MINI Cooper and MINI Clubman.

When it comes to fuel economy, standard Countryman models are capable of 35 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, while S models return 32 mpg with front-wheel drive and 31 mpg when equipped with ALL4 all-wheel drive.

“MINI has a great formula for creating vehicles that are fun and functional, and the Countryman is a fine example of that formula at work,” Parker noted. “Adding the Paceman to the lineup means yet another option for Connecticut drivers who are tired of boring crossovers.”

After starting production 10 years ago, the two-millionth MINI recently rolled off the Oxford, England assembly line with British Prime Minister David Cameron behind the wheel. The production milestone shows that the brand is maintaining another mainstay of the MINI badge: its popularity. 

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MINI Countryman Has Instant Appeal in J.D. Power and Associates Research

Crossover Debuts at the Top of Its Segment in 2011

At its unique size and shape put it in a segment of its own, but the MINI Cooper Countryman has quickly made it to the top of the Compact Crossover/SUV category in J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. Introduced for the 2011 model year at MINI dealerships, the MINI Countryman has attracted consumers with its mix of utility, sports car agility and MINI looks. 

“Combining all the fun of a MINI with the utility of a small crossover was a stroke of genius,” said Tim Parker, general manager of New Country MINI, a Hartford, Connecticut MINI dealer. “On the outside, the Countryman is all MINI, but inside there is room for four adults and enough cargo space to comfortably fit anything from groceries to golf clubs.”

Named after the Austin MINI Countryman that was produced from 1961 to 1969, the 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman makes the most of its modest size thanks to the innovative thinking that has become the hallmark of the MINI brand. Inside, there is not only more room for passengers when compared with other MINIs, but the Countryman’s four bucket seats can all slide forward and backward as well as recline, allowing this space to be contoured to the shapes, sizes and moods of all passengers.

With 41.3 cubic feet of cargo space once its rear seats are folded, the Countryman can offer a flat cargo area accessible through a rear liftgate for easy loading and unloading of anything from bags of mulch to skis or snowboards. Of course, since it’s a MINI, there are a bevy of options to customize the Cooper Countryman, ranging from Union Jack flag roof decals and leather interiors to communications and navigation units. 

The sporty feel of the Countryman comes from the engines it shares with other MINIs, including its standard 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower. The Cooper S Countryman adds a turbocharger and direct-injection to the equation for a more hot-blooded 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are available with either a six-speed manual transmission, a rarity in the category, or a six-speed automatic. The Cooper S Countryman is also available with ALL4 all-wheel drive that makes it a solid choice for discerning drivers to get around on Connecticut’s wintery roads. 

“The Countryman is a MINI that fits all lifestyles,” Parker added. “It’s just as fun as the two-door MINIs but is big enough for a family of four to get to vacations anywhere in the country during every season thanks to its all-wheel-drive system.”