At the 2011 Detroit auto show, Mini will show off a new concept based on its Countryman model. This new sport coupe has all-wheel drive and is meant to be a sports activity vehicle.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Mini will show off the Paceman Concept at the 2011 Detroit auto show. This vehicle is based on the Countryman model, and is slightly larger than the standard Mini Cooper.
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Unlike the Countryman model, this concept is designed as a coupe, so only has two side doors. As can be seen here, those doors are long, allowing access to the rear seat.
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As a strange design cue, Mini includes a leather pull tab for the gas cap cover, along with leather wraps on the exterior door handles.
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Mini went for a more sport appearance with the Paceman Concept, compared with the Countryman. The cap-like roof comes close to the belt-line toward the rear. But like the Countryman, the Paceman gets all-wheel drive.
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Mini powers the Paceman Concept with a John Cooper Works version of its 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. With this tuning, the engine pumps out 211 horsepower.
