More pictures from the Detroit Auto Show

MINI Paceman

So there’s the hatchback, the Clubman, the Convertible, the Countryman, the Coupé and the Roadster – and now we have the Countryman-derived coupé of the Paceman. Is there no end to the MINI bandwagon?

To be honest, I looked upon this car as an opportunity to sharpen my wit, but actually it’s pretty good looking. Well finished, with a pleasing roofline and voluptuously-shaped panels, it’s better by far than the sum of its parts.

Based on the Steyr-built Countryman platform, there’s more room in the back and it would be aimed at younger couples and sportier types than the existing Countryman range. With the Coupé slated for the end of this year and the Roadster for the first half on 2012, the MINI Paceman could be in the showrooms by early 2013. Will BMW build it? Of course it will