Official images of the Mini Paceman production car have leaked online ahead of the ‘Countryman coupe’s’ world premiere at the 2012 Paris motor show later this month.
The images, which were reportedly published in the company’s Mini Space online magazine by mistake before being taken offline, give us our first undisguised look at the two-door, which appears almost identical to the Mini Paceman concept that debuted at the 2011 Detroit motor show more than 18 months ago.
Due to go on sale in Australia around March 2013, the Mini Paceman will become the seventh variant in the local range, joining the Cooper hatch, Cabrio, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster.
The Mini Paceman is expected to feature the full range of powertrains from the Countryman line-up. Petrol options are set to include the naturally aspirated 90kW/160Nm 1.6-litre base model, the turbocharged 135kW/240Nm unit for the Cooper S Paceman and potentially, the 160kW/280Nm tune for the anticipated Paceman JCW.
The entry-level 82kW/270Nm 1.6-litre diesel is also likely to be joined by the 105kW/305Nm 2.0-litre engine for the Cooper SD Paceman variant.
Like the Countryman, the Paceman will be offered in both front- and all-wheel drive layouts, with the latter utilising the brand’s ‘ALL4’ technology to give the higher-riding coupe some level of off-road ability.
Pricing for the Mini Paceman remains up in the air at this stage, although some international reports suggest the coupe will command a slight premium over the four-door Countryman, similar to the coupe version of the Range Rover Evoque.