The Mini Paceman is a two-door crossover that has a mixture of design cues from the Countryman and a sleek coupe. The car looks sleeker than any other Mini, thanks to a rising shoulder line that slopes to a short end at the C-pillar. This shoulder line gives the appearance of the roof having a subtle downward slope over the rear quarter panels; meanwhile the roof is actually completely flat. This is a look that Mini is coining as the “helmet” roof. The photo renderings show the “helmet” roof as surprisingly appealing; especially in the rear having a sporty small rear window that has a sharp cut-off.

What the Paceman shares with the Countryman is the radiator grill front end that is ever so familiar in the Mini name sake. Mini also has added deep-set fog lights and extra air intakes in the front bumper to direct air to the wheel wells for brake ventilation. In the rear end there is a fully functional diffuser that channels the air flowing under the vehicle between the twin exhausts.

Under the snout of the Paceman lies a little known performer within the Mini family, the John Cooper Works 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The engine boasts 211 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Mini explains that they also plan to suit the Paceman with the ALL4 permanent all-wheel-drive system. The electromagnetic center differential in the system has the ability to shift 50 per cent of the torque to the rear in an instant.

Although Mini is describing the Paceman purely as a style concept for now, they often design concept vehicles that they have a chance at marketing in the future, rather than just a shock and awe show car.