Last year’s Paceman Concept, shown at the at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, was well received by the motoring press and public alike, so much so that BMW signed it off for a late-2012 production slot and deliveries in early 2013.

The one remaining question was , “what would it be called?”

Well, according to Car and Driver magazine, a ‘source’ at MINI has confirmed it will be called ‘Countryman Coupe’, which seems a sensible choice given how familiar we’ve now become with the 5-door Countryman hatch.

Speaking early last year, BMW Group’s Head of Sales & Marketing Ian Robertson confirmed that the Paceman will join the MINI line-up in 2013, saying “I am thrilled to tell you now, for the very first time, that there will be a seventh member of the MINI family – and we will base it on this concept.”

Both the Countryman and Paceman Concept share the same front fascia, grille, headlights and bonnet, with the Paceman adopting a more a more dynamic stance – and two less doors. In BMW parlance, the Countryman Coupé is a MINI Sports Activity Coupé (SAC), very much in the mould of BMW’s X6, forthcoming X4 and cars such as the Range Rover Evoque.

“In contrast to the more vertical design of the MINI Countryman, we’ve given the MINI Paceman Concept a horizontal emphasis and accentuated the width of the car rather more to underline the powerful appearance of the study,” explained Marcus Syring, Head of MINI Exterior Design.

The Countryman Coupé adopts a distinctive coupé tail that complements the athletic character of the car. Whilst new rear lights positioned at the outer edges of the rear wings underline the wide track of the rear axle.

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