Mini Paceman concept transforms Countryman's clumsy styling
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Mini has released the first pictures of the new Paceman concept car which it will display at the North American International Motor Show in January 2011. The Paceman, described as “the first Sports Activity Coupé in the premium small segment”, is based on the awkward looking Countryman crossover; it even shares some of that car's exterior parts, including the radiator grille, but is a much more successful design.
Where the Countryman has an upright, jacked-up four-door body, the Paceman has a sleeker two-door shell, which looks much more like that of the original BMW Mini of 2001 – although at over four metres long, it's a lot bigger. BMW says that the cabin of the Paceman concept combines traditional Mini elements such as the brand's trademark central speedometer, with the “central rail” stowage/equipment mounting system first seen on the Countryman.
Should BMW decide to put the Paceman into full production, the use of the Countryman as a base would allow for a wide range of engine and drive-train options, including a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive transmissions.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments