The new MINI Paceman

Four versions of the all-new MINI Paceman is set for UK launch in March 2013.

This coupé version of the Countryman goes from a 0-62mph of just 7.5 seconds. The unique design features include upright front grille, with hexagonal radiator grille and broad chrome surround along with the blacked-out pillars creating a ‘floating’ roof. However, the most distinguishing feature is it's roof which gently slopes towards the rear of the car, ending at the integrated spoiler.

The four versions of the car includes two petrol and two diesel. All have powerful four-cylinder engines with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the optional six-speed automatic with Steptronic function for manual control.

For those who want4 wheel drive, MINI’s ALL4 system is available on the Cooper D, SD and Cooper S Paceman models.

MINI Cooper Paceman:

1.6-litre Petrol engine 122bhp

0-62mph in 10.4 seconds,

fuel economy of 47.1mpg

CO2 emissions of 140 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Paceman

1.6-litre Petrol engine tuned to deliver 184bhp.

0-62mph in 7.5 seconds.

Fuel economy is 46.3mpg

CO2 emissions are 143g/km.

MINI Cooper D Paceman

1.6-litre 112bhp turbocharged Diesel engine

0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds.

Fuel economy 64.2mpg

CO2 emissions 115g/km.

MINI Cooper SD Paceman

2.0-litre 143bhp Diesel engine.

0-62mph time is 9.2 seconds.

Fuel economy is 61.4mpg

CO2 emissions 122g/km.

A John Cooper Works Paceman version will also be coming soon.

Prices will start at £18,970 on the road.

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Will adaptive cruise control spell the end of traffic jams?

Did you know that rear-end collisions account for about 30% of car crashes? For that reason alone, widespread adoption of adaptive cruise control (ACC) can’t come too soon. ACC helps prevent such collisions in two ways: 1) by maintaining a safe, preset distance from the car ahead; and 2) by applying the brakes quickly if that car comes to a sudden stop — more quickly, in fact, than most humans.

Good news is, ACC may soon become pervasive. The folks at Global Industry Analysts crunched some numbers and determined that annual installations of ACC systems will reach 6.9 million units by 2017.

Mind you, ACC isn’t just about safety; it’s also about traffic flow. For instance, a study by Suzuki and Nakatsuji (2003) suggests that travel times shrink significantly when at least 20% of vehicles on the road use ACC. And a study by Kesting et al. (2008) suggests that, in some scenarios, traffic congestion simply disappears when 25% of vehicles use ACC.

Example of adaptive cruise control
Source: Volvo

The picture isn’t all rosy, however. ACC may improve traffic flow, but not in every situation, such as merging from an on-ramp onto a freeway. That said, a study by L. C. Davis (2010) suggests that a technique called cooperative merging can significantly the improve the performance of ACC in this scenario. Meanwhile, a study by Jerath and Brennan (2010) suggests that the benefits associated with ACC may come at a possible cost — “self-organized” traffic jams. This effect, caused mostly by human behavior, may occur in a traffic system where most, but not all, cars use ACC.

Caveats aside, ACC systems continue to evolve. Some drivers tend to slam their brakes and use heavy throttle in traffic, creating congestive shockwaves that ripple down the highway. According to J.C. Power, newer versions of ACC help alleviate this problem by smoothly modulating brakes and throttle in stop-and-go traffic.

And now, a look at ACC from 1939…
If you think the concept of ACC is relatively new, think again. Over 70 years ago, GM created a “Futurama” exhibit for the 1939 World's Fair that showcased a scale-model highway in which cars automatically maintain a safe, efficient distance from one another.

GM predicted this technology would be in place by 1960. They got the timing wrong, but the idea right. Click the video to see a surprisingly prescient look at the car of the future — I’ve already bookmarked the spot for you:



What about you? Have you had much experience with ACC? And if so, has it helped or hindered your driving experience?

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