The future of the prototype Mini Paceman was written since its first appearance. In January 2011, Ian Robertson revealed that “there will be a seventh member of the Mini family – the MINI Paceman Concept!” The words of the Head of Sales & Marketing of BMW are now confirmed by a recent indiscretion, which Car and Driver credit to an insider of Mini: the crossover will make its debut in late 2012 and will be called Countryman Coupe. No details are held about the aesthetics, but almost certain are the engines in petrol and diesel versions, already offered by the Countryman 5-door.

Just a reminder: the Paceman measured 4.11m long, 1.79m wide and 1.54m high. It was powered with a 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine developing 211 hp and coupled to an ALL4 four wheel drive, while the aesthetics of the body was characterised by strong horizontal lines that enhance its muscular look, fleeting rear and large headlights. The car was displayed at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show.

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These Mini Paceman drawings have been leaked by the Carscoop website, and so we get our first look of the three-door Mini crossover model to be based on the Countryman. We’ve already said how we thought that the Paceman, looking like the Range Rover Evoque coupe, should perhaps have been the original Countryman - mixing Mini’s go-kart, coupé style with a crossover make, rather than the cartoonish compact SUV the Countryman turned out to be.

In any case, the Paceman should provide another nice entry to the Mini’s expanding range, and should prove to keep the Countryman space in a rakish style. It will be 4.1 m long and 1.54 m tall, and should lose its muscular look when the 19-inch wheels get replaced with something more demure.

The Mini Paceman should have the same engine line-up as the Countryman with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel units and the new two-litre diesel. The John Cooper Works Paceman will get Mini’s ALL4 four-wheel drive system.

Mini Paceman drawings

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The Mini Paceman could prove to be what many would have liked the Countryman to be - a more coupé-like, sportier and faster-looking Mini SUV. In these pics and the video after the jump, we can see what Mini has described as the first “Sports Activity Coupé” in the small car sector, which will be presented at next year’s Detroit auto show ready for possible production as early as 2012. This flies in the face of some concerns over the Mini brand going big (or ‘un-Mini’ generally speaking), but reveals the promised “spectacular” concept that we were to see at the show in January. We get the impression though, that this isn’t the Mini citycar concept which was set to be revealed.

While avoiding too many comparisons with the Range Rover Evoque, the Mini Paceman shows much more of a coupe-SUV style with sloping roof and tapered rear, than the cutesy Countryman. The new Paceman is still based on that platform though, and if it gets to production, it could include some of Mini’s more upmarket machinery and finishes. The concept model is being presented with the John Cooper Works petrol engine with 212 hp and All4 all-wheel drive system.

There are plenty of different design features, including a shorter, sloped windscreen and roof line, longer doors, high waistline and smaller windows for a wedge shape, while the rear is completely different from any other Mini. Some subtle touches have been included that affect the overall look including C-pillars tinted in line with the glass and a new jade green colour which helps in giving the Paceman its soft, smooth look.

With some luxury touches on the inside which largely follows the design theme on the Mini Countryman keeping the upmarket label, the Paceman is set to be an interesting addition to the Mini line-up. As production hasn’t been announced yet, we expect Mini will probably wait to see how the Countryman’s fortunes pan out before announcing another SUV-like model in the range. Despite the Evoque similarity, we’re convinced that the Paceman is closer to Mini tradition and design, including driving philosophy, than the Countryman itself and it will be interesting to see which of these models becomes more popular. If the Paceman gets to production, though, it will be the most expensive Mini ever, according to reports, but we guess it can only get a boost in exclusivity if that’s the case.

Mini Paceman Concept

Continue reading: Mini Paceman pics and video

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