Pricey Mini Paceman doesn't merit badge of honour

The Mini brand is continuing its attempt to expand its line-up while retaining the “essence of Mini” that has worked so well to date. In a way, it’s a victim of its own success, a winning retro marketing strategy that so intertwines the brand with the 1960s icon that any attempt to expand out of its current format risks damaging the very essence of what makes it a success.

So, in order to keep things relatively fresh, the firm continues to come up with relatively wacky offshoots of the original template. Enter the new Paceman, a niche model that fills a gap in the market no one knew existed – and we’re still not convinced does.

The Paceman is officially a sports activity coupé, a derivative of the Countryman model, which it closely resembles and which it also shares the same platform. Its standout feature is its coupé-style roof that’s angled downwards towards the rear of the car. The Paceman is solely available as a three-door, with seating for four occupants, with two individual seats in the rear. So, some of the looks of a crossover, with less practicality.

Prior to its arrival in Ireland this month, we drove the top-of-the-range John Cooper Works (JCW) model. This brings the JCW versions of Mini to seven– the JCW Paceman follows on from the Hatch, Cabriolet, Roadster, Coupé, Clubman and the Countryman.

Finished in black and Chilli red (an exclusive colour for JCW models), the performance-orientated Paceman stands out from its regular siblings. It sits 10mm lower on sports-tuned suspension; filling the wheel arches are 18in light-alloy wheels (19in optional). Its overall appearance is muscular, with an aerodynamic body kit; this includes a lower front spoiler, side skirts and rear apron with two hefty exhausts situated one either side of the rear of the car, hinting at the car’s potent performance capabilities.

Room for four adults

The car’s racy theme is apparent in the interior. The dash is finished in piano black, with adornments of red stitching on the sports steering wheel, gearshift gaiter and floor mats. Despite its external coupé appearance, the Paceman offers ample room for four adults, with plenty of headroom for the two rear seat occupants, notwithstanding the car’s sloping roofline.

At the heart of the John Cooper Works Paceman is a 1.6-litre petrol engine that utilises a twin-scroll turbocharger to produce a brawny 218hp and 280Nm of torque. This power is transferred to the road through Mini’s ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. It’s a clever piece of technology that incorporates an electromagnetic centre differential which distributes power between the front and rear wheels. It will send up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels in normal driving conditions, and can send all its power to the rear in extreme conditions.