The 2014 MINI Paceman is a superb all around vehicle, offering practicality, fun, efficiency and all-weather capability. The Paceman’s precise steering inspires confidence and the sport suspension does a great job of keeping the crossover vehicle’s body movement in check while delivering a fun ride.
Introduced in March, the Paceman represents another MINI expansion into a new segment, following the debut of the MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system in the MINI Countryman. ALL4 gives drivers an even more focused experience of the car’s driving fun through curves and in cornering – on rough terrain, as well as smooth roads. The MINI Paceman is the eighth model available with ALL4 either standard or as an option. The Paceman, dubbed a “premium compact Sports Activity Coupé,” optionally teams up ALL4 with the diesel engines in the MINI Cooper SD and MINI Cooper D, as well as the gasoline driven MINI Cooper S. Also available is the MINI John Cooper Works Paceman with the allwheel- drive system as standard and a 218 hp, race-developed engine for those wanting extreme driving fun with excellent handling in any situation. All models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, while a six-speed automatic is an option.
ALL4 gives drivers of eight MINI models a noticeable boost to traction, directional stability and agility through corners. ALL4 is available as an option for the MINI Cooper S Countryman, SD Countryman and D Countryman, while the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman sends its power through all four wheels as standard.
ALL4 was developed specially for MINI models and since its introduction in 2010 has won many new fans. The all-wheeldrive system uses an electromagnetic centre differential to distribute power seamlessly between the front and rear axles. In normal driving situations ALL4 diverts up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, rising to as much as 100 per cent in extreme conditions such as on ice and snow-covered surfaces. The control electronics of the MINI ALL4 system are integrated directly into the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) management unit, enabling drive to be channeled through the wheels in milliseconds.
This set-up offers a number of advantages; in regular driving situations it optimizes fuel economy. But ALL4 also responds to fluctuating requirements to give the MINI Countryman or MINI Paceman driver the intense experience of the MINI go-kart feeling. It uses the data collected by DSC to tweak the power split and allow fast cornering and sport driving. The system feeds a higher proportion of the engine’s power to the rear wheels to make turn-in as precise as possible.
Pricing on the 2014 MINI Paceman starts at $23,900.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or by addressing email to Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com
