From 2012 to 2016, Mini sold the Paceman two-door coupe crossover, but discontinued production due to sluggish sales. Now it will reportedly return as an electric car. It is said to retain a low-key version of the coupe-like roof line, but will add a back door to make it more practical.
While consumers may want to see more two-door models, the first Paceman as a two-door model didn't really resonate with buyers, so turning it into a four-door model is a reasonable move. The four-door Mini Countryman proved more popular — now coming out with a third generation, which will come with both electric and all-electric powertrains.
The sporty Paceman and a larger, more practical Counterman are perhaps the two electric crossovers that Mini says will launch in 2024. Countryman is expected to debut in 2023, and now foreign media has released its spy photos.
Some media said that the more sporty-looking Paceman EV will debut in 2024, powered by a battery pack with a capacity of about 60 kWh and a range of about 250 miles (about 400 kilometers); there may even be a two-motor all-wheel drive setup for a hotter version. It will be manufactured on the same platform as the new all-electric mini hatch cover and will likely be manufactured by the same factory in China.
As early as 2019, BMW partnered with Great Wall Motors and announced that the joint venture will produce electric vehicles in China. The plant, built specifically for this purpose in China's Jiangsu province, is expected to produce around 160,000 Mini-badged vehicles per year, all of which will be electric.
If it's the same as other new models that are expected to be added to the Mini lineup in the coming years, it's likely that the new Paceman will also be equipped with an internal combustion engine. However, by 2030, when Mini vows to become a manufacturer of pure electric vehicles, the fuel version will be phased out.