MINI Paceman launched in Malaysia
In BMW speak, the Sports Activity Coupe is a vehicle that essentially combines the style of a coupe with the raised driving position of an SUV and the driving dynamics of a sports car. The first vehicle in BMW’s books that matched this description was the BMW X6 launched in 2007 and word now is that a 3 Series-based X4 is well underway for a 2014 release.
MINI’s version of the Sports Activity Coupe is the Paceman that was officially launched in Malaysia just today. It is based on the Countryman’s platform, but styled and designed with a sportier tilt. Design touches unique to the Paceman include a lower coupe-like roof and tail lights that stretch horizontally rather than the usual vertical style of other MINIs.
Further enforcing the Paceman’s identity as a sporty coupe is its two-door configuration and a cabin that seats only four people. Rear passengers are accommodated in two individual seats separated by the trademark centre rail that was introduced in the Countryman. Storage compartments of various shapes can be snapped onto the rail and placed anywhere along it in any configuration preferred by users.
The Paceman is being offered to Malaysian buyers exclusively in its Cooper S guise, with the familiar Prince engine under the hood providing 184hp and 240Nm to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. The ALL4 all-wheel drive system is not available for Malaysians on the grounds of cost, and it was also found that amongst buyers of the bigger Countryman, most consumers were happy to settle for front-wheel drive in exchange for a lower price tag.
According to official performance figures, front-driven Cooper S Paceman accelerates from rest to 100kph in 7.8 seconds and maxes out its speedometer at 212kph. Fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is rated at 7.5 l/100km with carbon dioxide emissions at 175 g/km. Drivers can press a Sport button to activate more aggressive engine, transmission, and steering settings.
Technologically, the Paceman aims to be a multimedia hub on wheels and it is equipped with a full range of MINI Connected features which includes a 6.5″ LCD Display embedded inside the centrally-mounted giant speedometer. The system is designed to seamlessly interface with the Apple iPhone 3GS, 4, and 5 to facilitate social media connectivity on the go.
There is also a funkily-named Mission Control function that provides, in BMW’s own words, ‘amusing and useful information from the vehicle’s sensors’. Using 1,800 pre-recorded messages, the Mission Control feature delivers audio notification to the driver for vehicle status reports. It also serves to help train the driver in adopting sustainable driving techniques using appropriate audio and visual prompting.
The all-new MINI Cooper S Paceman will be available in five exterior paint shades; the roof and exterior mirror caps can be painted in body colour, white or black. The sole cost option is a RM7,888 glass roof. The retail price (on the road for personal registration, without insurance, with the MINI Tender Loving Care service package) for the all-new MINI Cooper S Paceman is RM 288,888.
