MINI Expands All-Wheel Drive Availability to Cooper Countryman and Cooper Paceman

Two more Mini models, the Cooper Countryman and the Cooper Paceman, are now optionally available with the British brand's "ALL4" all-wheel drive system. The new additions grow the number of all-wheel versions within the Mini range to ten models.
Both the Cooper Countryman and Cooper Paceman ALL4 are fitted with a 1.6-liter inline-four petrol engine rated for 121hp (122PS) and 160Nm (118 lb-ft) of peak torque when combined with the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and 190Nm (140 lb-ft) when paired to the optional 6-speed automatic transmission.
According to Mini, the Cooper Countryman ALL4 goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 11.9 seconds (automatic: 11.7 seconds), before topping out at 184 km/h or 114mph (auto: 182 km/h or 113mph). It returns a combined fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km (34mpg US or 40.9mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of 167g/km with the manual gearbox.
The Cooper Paceman ALL4 model takes 11.8 seconds (automatic: 11.6 seconds) to accelerate from standing to 100 km/h (62mph) and reaches a top speed of 185 km/h or 115mph (auto: 183 km/h or 114mph). The manual model's fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels are the same as those of the Cooper Countryman ALL4.
Mini has not yet announced pricing for the new ALL4 models.

 

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MINI Space Design Competition 90°

https://www.minispace.com/en_us/background/24/?competition=24&campaignid=MINI_SocialMedia&advertiserid=MINISpace_CGM&bannerid=competition

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MINI Sales up 3.3% Worldwide for April

It’s the calm before the storm as MINI prepares to launch one of the most important models in its history late this year with the F56. But for now we’re focused on the current line-up with the Paceman recently joining the ranks and doing rather well.

Official Release: With 24,581 vehicles delivered in April, worldwide sales for MINI increased by 3.3% (prev. yr. 23,794). In the month under review, MINI achieved solid growth in retail sales in some of its key markets such as Great Britain/Ireland (3,393/ +43.6%), and China (2,038/ +7.0%). The new MINI Paceman has had a successful start with around 1,500 vehicles delivered to customers since its launch in mid-March. Year-to-date, MINI sales are around last year’s level with 90,737 units sold in the first four months (prev. yr. 92,005/ -1.4%).

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MINI Paceman by Roberto Cavalli

A one-off MINI Paceman designed by Roberto Cavalli has been revealed

MINI has donated a new Paceman to be auctioned for an Aids and HIV charity at the Vienna Life Ball.
For the past 13 years, MINI has given at least one new car to a prominent designer for a makeover, before auctioning it for charity. This year, a MINI Paceman has been donated, with fashion designer Roberto Cavalli taking care of making the one-off MINI stand out.
The Paceman has been treated to a special iridescent paint job that, according to MINI, “shimmers from black to brown depending on the incidence of light.” Cavalli has added his logo to the car’s roof, too.
"This MINI was an exciting project for me”, says Roberto Cavalli. “It gave me the opportunity to be creative and finally use something very special, which I have personally invented and already used for years for my own vehicles: it is a unique iridescent paint which changes colour depending on the way the light illuminates the pigments.”
The Paceman designed by Roberto Cavalli is the fifteenth MINI to appear at the Vienna Life Ball. So far, cars auctioned at the event have raised over half a million Euros for charity.
The original MINI hatchback debuted in camouflage at the event in 2001, before it had been launched.
Previous designers who have put their individual stamp on cars include a MINI Cabrio by Versace in 2005, a MINI Cabrio by Diesel in 2006, and a MINI by photographer Mario Testino in 2007.
This year’s one-off MINI will be auctioned in the Hall of Ceremonies at Vienna’s Hofburg palace as part of the AIDS Solidarity Gala on May 25.

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MINI Paceman vs Range Rover Evoque

The MINI Paceman goes head-to-head with the Range Rover Evoque

MINI sold more cars in the UK last year than ever before, but the company believes that the new Paceman has the right blend of ingredients for it to achieve even greater success.
The newcomer is based on the Countryman, but mixes crossover practicality with coupe style and MINI character in an attempt to emulate the design-led success of the Range Rover Evoque.
But can the seventh MINI in the range rival the pioneering coupe SUV – crowned Auto Express Car of the Year in 2011 – and offer a cheaper alternative?
The £24,290 Cooper SD ALL4 sits at the top of the model range, and comes with four-wheel drive and a 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine.
You’ll need an extra £5,905 to step up to the Range Rover, but even then you only get on the bottom rung of the ladder with the front-wheel-drive 147bhp eD4 model.
So which is the better choice? And is the Paceman the best variation on the MINI theme yet?

Verdict

Both the cars in this test display the traits that make their brands so popular. The Evoque mimics the relaxed persona of bigger Range Rovers, while the Paceman displays a touch of the youthful exuberance that’s become the trademark of the smaller MINI models.
Yet although the models start from completely different positions, they converge to offer similar amounts of style, desirability and image. The Paceman is the most convincing crossover MINI yet, offering nearly as much practicality as the Countryman, with a far bigger helping of style.
Choose one over the two-wheel-drive Evoque and you can get the versatility and security of four-wheel drive and still save around £5,000 on the price. But the Range Rover is more practical, rides far more comfortably and feels more upmarket than the Paceman, particularly inside.
And while the MINI handles well, it seems a bit cumbersome at low speed. Plus, the gruff 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel can’t match the Evoque for executive smoothness and refinement – although there’s little between the two cars when it comes to performance on the road.
However, it’s the Evoque that narrowly takes the win in this fashion-conscious encounter. Yes, it’s a lot more expensive, but if you specify a MINI to a similar standard, the price gap narrows significantly. And while it has been around for a while now, it still feels like one of the must-have cars of the moment.

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Mini Paceman JCW

"A big personality and that decent 4WD save the Paceman JCW from banishment to the TG scrapheap..."

It's a Mini. But which one?

This is a Paceman JCW. So it's a two-door version of the Countryman with some extra firepower from a John Cooper Works conversion.

How much extra firepower?

Until now the fastest Paceman was a 183bhp Cooper S. This one has 215bhp and comes with Mini's rather good All4 four-wheel-drive system as standard.
See more pics of the Mini Paceman John Cooper Works

 So it's supposed to be a hot hatch type-thing?

Yes. Though at nearly thirty thousand pounds it's the most expensive Mini on sale, and even if you squint really hard, it's definitely not a traditional hatchback.

Is it any good?

It will never go around corners quite like a proper hot hatch, because ultimately it's just a reskinned version of the somewhat portly Countryman. And it lacks the tingly edge we like so much about other John Cooper Works models.

Do you have a ‘but' coming up?

Yes. Because there's still something likeable about the Paceman JCW. Maybe it's the familiar 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, which blows raspberries down the exhaust. Or maybe it's the excellent electromagnetic centre differential, which chucks up to 100 per cent of the 215bhp to the rear wheels.

Sounds like fun...

We drove all day on cold, wet roads in Germany, gathering confidence with every bend. It's more assured and bearable than other JCWs. There's loads of grip and the brakes are strong. And there's a burst of extra torque under full acceleration from 2,100 to 4,500rpm, which is just enough to make it feel brisk.

What's not to like?

More supportive seats would be welcome, to save passengers from having to anchor themselves with a knee or elbow. And although Sport mode sharpens the throttle and turns the exhaust into a firework when you come off the throttle, it doesn't alter the suspension and actually stiffens the steering too much.

But I really love Minis and can't help myself...

You're a freak. But we'll forgive you for this one, because a big personality and that decent 4WD save the Paceman JCW from banishment to the TG scrapheap. But be warned: for similar money, you could be buying the astonishingly good BMW M135i. But perhaps that doesn't shout loudly enough for some people...

The numbers
1598cc, 4cyl, 4WD, 215bhp, 221lb ft, 38.2mpg, 172g/km CO2, 0-62mph in 6.9 secs, 140mph, 1475kg

by http://www.topgear.com

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