Two-door coupe version of the MINI Countryman
• Available in two and four-wheel drive
• Hot John Cooper Works edition announced

MINI has made a name for itself in recent years of making cars that no-body thought would sell and then selling vast quantities of them. The Clubman was the first, then came the Countryman which was followed by the Roadster and Coupe. The company has created niches within niches and this, the seventh model in the MINI line-up, is no different.

What is it?

A very good question. It’s a coupe/4×4/hatchback triple crossover. It’s essentially a three-door, less practical Countryman. The sloping roof-line and two missing doors point it towards being a coupe, whilst the high ride-height and upright grille hint at its 4×4 aspirations (although it’s available with two-wheel drive as well…). Yet somehow, it still manages to look resolutely like a MINI.

What’s it like?

A bit confusing, to be honest. From the outside, it looks like a cross between the original hatch and the Countryman, but it is still distinctly MINI-esque. Inside, all the familiar MINI styling cues remain although the rear bench from the Countryman has been replaced by two individual seats. The boot has been reduced by 20-litres compared to the Countryman to 300-litres. Plenty for a small coupe but small for a 4×4. Initially, all engines will be 1.6-litre units with 120 and 181bhp available from the petrol Cooper and Cooper S variants whilst the diesels will get 110bhp and 141bhp respectively for the Cooper D and Cooper SD models. A hot John Cooper Works edition is also in the pipeline.

What’s it up against?

Another tricky question. The Nissan Juke and Juke NISMO are the closest things on the market in terms of layout and concept behind it. The forthcoming Peugeot 2008crossover is also in contention.

When can I buy it?

The Paceman will go on sale in March 2013, with prices starting at £18,970 for the base Cooper model.

By James Richardson