Evo Drives the Paceman Prototype

The chaps at Evo have managed (along with a few select UK and Euro press) some seat time in the Paceman All4 prototype. While still butt-wrapped in swirly nonsense, it looks like they got a pretty thorough look at the car. We’re all familiar with the basic looks and layout of the Paceman, but the burning question for many of us has been how does it drive? Evo‘s Mike Duff gives us his impression:
You’re probably expecting to hear that the Paceman drives pretty much like the Countyman. But it doesn’t. The revised suspension settings have, on our first acquaintance, turned it into a considerably more dynamic machine, with less roll, more grip and a far less front-biased chassis balance, certainly on the dusty tarmac of our Spanish test route.
We drove the ‘All 4’ version which, like its Countryman sister, uses a part-time four-wheel drive system to redistribute torque to the rear axle when slip is detected at the front. On the Countryman you need to be pretty much driving on ice or mud to feel the benefit, but the Paceman proves far happier to play on slidey surfaces than its understeery sister. In that regard it feels like a bigger Mini hatchback.
Keep in mind, this is still just the Cooper S version of the Paceman. If the Countryman is any indicator, we can expect JCW Paceman to be all the more fun and dynamic. Duff dings the Paceman for many of the expected goldielocks complaints, but I think we all know what we’re getting into with this car. It’s bigger than the hardtop hatch, less practical (ostensibly) than the full on Countryman, but it also appears to be a lot more fun than the Countryman. If MINI is ultimately aiming for the a go-to vehicle for intersecting fun driving dynamics with available AWD, perhaps the Paceman really is just right.
Head on over to Evo for their full review and lots of photos.
[Source: Evo]
10 Comments
<p>HMMM. I am a little up set. Why could they not have made to CM lower then? Why not a better suspension on the CM? As you guys said on MTTS that your test CM had started to have suspension issues. Is this MINI’s fix? A new, better suspension? I cannot wait to see this fully unveiled and a test drive behind the wheel. Not trying to run off with som many questions. I guess we will soon see.</p>
<p>There weren’t suspension issues as the car drove that was from day one. The CM with the sport package isn’t well calibrated IMO for the run flats that are on the car.</p>
<p>On the front end the Paceman suspension should be a bolt on to the CM. Rear, I’m not so sure….. Really, if you want “Optimal” anything, sticking with the parts from the factory will be an exercise in frustration….</p>
<p>Strange that it would cost more than the Countryman.</p>
<p>And unacceptable in my mind. Less car…more $$$. Same engine/drivetrain with less sheet metal. What am I missing?</p>
<p>Coupes in the real world always cost more than the 4 door counterparts.</p>
<p>fewer made = more $.</p>
<p>Those have to be just about the ugliest MINI wheels ever…</p>
<p>I am increasingly interested in the
Paceman, the majority of niggles are IMO pluses; however, $38K! I
hope that they were talking about pounds of something other than
Sterling.</p>
<p>Wow,
that is some diatribe in the comments at the end of the EVO article. I know
some people including my wife think anything other than the Cooper & Cooper
S are really not MINIs, but hey it has a market. In the JCW version I might
even buy one, in spite of her objections.</p>