MINI USA ANNOUNCES A NEW MEMBER OF THE MINI FAMILY
MINI Paceman Concept Confirmed As Basis For New Production Model

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  January 10, 2011. The MINI Paceman Concept vehicle made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. During the press conference, Ian Robertson, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, announced that the Paceman will be the basis for MINI's seventh production model in the lineup.

“There will be a seventh member of the MINI family – and we will base it on this concept,” said Robertson. “MINI keeps growing, the excitement never stops.” The current lineup includes the MINI Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman and Countryman. The MINI Coupe will be launched later this year, and the MINI Roadster will be available in 2012.

The Paceman design study is the first crossover coupe in the premium small car segment. It is based on the same platform as the MINI Countryman, and combines an athletic, masculine coupé appearance with the dimensions of the MINI Countryman. “It is the strong muscular MINI with sporty elegance,” said Robertson.

The MINI Paceman Concept captures the typical MINI characteristics – unique design, clever functionality and signature driving fun - with a new level of agility. It includes ALL4, MINI's intelligent all-wheel-drive system and is powered by the 1.6 liter John Cooper Works twin-scroll turbo engine.

All details, including launch timing, production vehicle name and manufacturing information will be announced at a later date.

MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 138 BMW motorcycle retailers, 103 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com
 
Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwna.com. Additional information, images and video may be found at www.miniusanews.com.