Mini Fires Up The Niche-O-Matic

As ludicrous a concept as the Countryman was, it hasn’t deterred Mini from engineering an entirely new niche, just to satisfy its perverse craving to manufacture a car for literally everyone. Everywhere. The new Paceman is for Don, from Wilmslow

Tom Harrison

18 May 2015

Don will be able to get his mitts on the Countryman-based Paceman coupé when it goes on sale in March. Prices will start at a little under £19K, although Don will want to wait for the - reassuringly expensive, no doubt - John Cooper Works model that Mini says is “in development”.

‘Till then, the most potent modes will be the 184bhp, 1.6-litre Cooper S and the 2.0-litre, 143bhp diesel Cooper SD - both will be available with “ALL4” four-wheel drive. The Cooper S manages 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, and returns 46.3mpg - although probably not simultaneously.

The Paceman’s raison d’être is to offer more space than a regular Mini, and a more entertaining drive than the Countryman. As such, Mini’s engineers have retuned the springs and shocks to give it a more connected feel, and dropped the ride-height.

The four-seat interior is standard Mini-fare - with its oversized central speedo’ and full complement of toggle switches. And the 330-litre boot is more than big enough for Don’s squash racquets.

Expect to see the Paceman in the flesh for the first time at this month’s Paris Motor Show. As for Don, he's just caught his wife cheating on him with his brother. You win some, you lose some...