MINI Paceman Concept Confirmed For Production!
BMW AG’s Ian Robertson confirmed at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show that the MINI Paceman Concept would be going into production, making it the seventh variant in the MINI family. That is not surprising looking how near-production the Paceman Concept looked, and many agree it looked better than the Countryman thanks to the sleeker side profile with one door on each side. So we are looking at at least 3 more new MINI launches in the next two years – the MINI Coupe, the MINI Roadster and the MINI Paceman.
Mini Concept Paceman
Mini concept previews 2-door Paceman. The car will be showcased at the Detroit car Show next month. The Paceman uses the same platform and has the same size as the Countryman crossover, Mini’s first four-door that goes on sale early next year. The concept also has a larger tailgate than the Countryman. Mini said in a release the car has not been approved for production but “Paceman could form yet another building block in the growth of the Mini brand.” The concept has a familiar small front end with large headlights surrounded by chrome and the same radiator grill as the Cooper S Countryman crossover.
But it has what Mini calls a “coupe tail” to give it an athletic appearance. “In distinction to the more vertical design of the Mini Countryman, we’ve given the Mini Paceman concept a horizontal emphasis and accentuated the width of the car more to underline the powerful look of the study,” Marcus Syring, head of Mini outer design, said in a statement.Under the hood, the Paceman has Mini’s performance-oriented John Cooper Works 1.-6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 211 horsepower.
Confirmed: MINI To Launch Cars in India
After rejecting the idea twice it is going to be 3rd time lucky for Mini in Indian market. BMW cars had carried out 2 feasibility studies in the past, since 2006 – the outcome of both had resulted in India plans being shelved. So Mini cars India has finally decided its time to take a 2nd look at it its India agenda. Mini will debut its brand in Indian market with the help of parent BMW of course. Only a few of the select metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are likely to get a single Mini dealership in next year.
Mini would first introduce the iconic Cooper hatch in 2 or 3 variants. These cars would be direct imports from the company’s Cowley plant in Oxfordshire, UK. Following the introduction of its flagship cars, Mini India will launch the Countryman variant which will be assembled locally at the BMW plant in Chennai. Mini Cooper Countryman is the first Mini to be assembled outside of the England to begin with, as its being built in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr under contract. This will give Mini pricing power, and the ability to get aggressive and rack up some volumes.
Hamann Tuning Kit for MINI Cooper S
Hamann has released tuning and bodykits for the MINI Cooper S and the MINI Cooper D, which both have turbocharged motors, making it easier to tweak as compared to normally aspirated cars. There are 2 options for the Cooper S. One is a boost up to 204hp at 5,500rpm and 300Nm of torque between 1,600 to 5,000rpm.
The other is the SPORTKIT CS 230 which gives the Cooper S a massive power boost to 230 PS at 6,050rpm and 330Nm of torque at 3,860rpm, making it more powerful than the recently unveiled MINI John Cooper Works however it loses the amazingly flat torque curve. The Cooper D gets its power upped from 110hp to 136hp at 4,000rpm and a peak torque of 300Nm between 1,750 to 2,000rpm.
The Hamann bodykit is said to provide aerodynamic benefits and includes a front skirt, side sills and a rear diffuser which integrates the two tailpipes of the Hamann sports exhaust system. The Hamann suspension lowers the MINI's center of gravity by 30mm. There is also a height-adjustable coilover kit which can be lowered up to 500mm.
