P90155313-2015-Paceman-R61

Over the past 12 months the Paceman has moved from dead in the water to firmly part of MINI’s future plans. However MINI intends to make a key change to the car in help ensure more success – four doors. The F61 Paceman will be based on an extended UKL platform that will be shared with the Countryman, BMW X1 and (crucially) the BMW X2. What’s the X2? For lack of a better term it’s BMW’s version of a crossover coupe and key reason that the Paceman will continue into its second generation.

The shared development costs should help the performance and refinement of both the Countryman and Paceman models. We know that BMW is currently testing 300hp all wheel drive versions of it’s extended UKL platform. It’s not that much of a stretch to see MINI dropping that engine in a JCW version that redefines MINI performance. While we don’t expect the Paceman to get a the plugin hybrid and diesel models that the Countryman will, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility given that the cost would be mostly in certifying the new models rather than in engineering.

The X2 is reportedly to come in both two and four door configurations while MINI will focus on four doors with the Paceman. Will that help sales? Would you consider a Paceman with four doors? Let us know in the comments below.

Look for the F61 four door Paceman to debut sometime in 2018.