Mini Paceman concept to go into production

Filed under:Mini, Detroit Auto Show, Concepts, European,
Well, the Mini has got a lot bigger then it's 1960's grandfather. Even so, this compact crossover has gone quite popular these last few years and now, a new generation is ready to hit the market. The Paceman, the concept car that Mini presented at the last NAIAS auto show is now ready to enter mass production.
Back then, the car featured the JCW 208 HP 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an overboost function that could briefly increase the maximum torque of the engine from 260 to 280 Nm.
Now, one of the BMW board members, Ian Robertson reportedly said "We will take this car into engineering now and over the next few months we'll firm up the exact launch date for it." Robertson also stated that the production Paceman will have a strong resemblance to the concept and will offer a wide range of engine alternatives.
The only rather strange thing here is that the Paceman will enter production sometime after the Countryman Coupe. Still, the Countryman and the Paceman resemble very much so it's hard to say how they are going to be sold as different products.