What's the news?
Did you see the updated MINI Countryman revealed at the New York Auto Show earlier this month? If you did, there are no surprises here. MINI has applied the same thinking to a mid-life update for its Paceman coupé and launched it at the Beijing Motor Show. The bumpers and lights are revised a little, there are new paint colours to choose from and new body trim packs too.
Inside, there is more functionality for the internet-equipped MINI Connected infotainment system (which now includes functions exclusive to MINI such as Mission Control, Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement and MINIMALISM Analyser, the use of Facebook, Twitter, foursquare and Glympse, RSS news feed reception and entertainment programs such as AUPEO!, Stitcher, Deezer, Audible, Napster/Rhapsody and TuneIn) and the five-seat cabin has been more or less ditched - all Pacemans (Pacemen?) will now come with the four-seat layout and the MINI Centre Rail storage system as standard. A bench rear will only be available as an option now.
There are some small mechanical tweaks too. The Cooper S version gets a small power boost, bringing it to 190hp, while the 1.6 Cooper D diesel now returns 67.3mpg and emits 111g/km.
Anything else?
Updated MINI Pacemans go on sale this July.
Neil Briscoe - 24 Apr 2014