Performance Review: Mini Cooper Paceman - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mini Cooper Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mini Cooper Paceman is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged.This particular Mini Cooper has a 1598cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Cooper shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Cooper's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1330 kgs (2932 lbs) this makes the Mini Cooper Paceman in the same weight category as the 2021 Aston-Martin Valkyrie Coupe 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Mini Cooper shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1598cc 16V St4 engine produces 120 bhp (89 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2017 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi ST-Line 120 (118 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 118 lb-ft (159.9 Nm) @ 4250 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2013 Renault Captur 1.2 Turbo TCe 120 EDC (140 lb-ft) or the 2012 Lexus CT 200h 1.8L (105 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mini Cooper you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2001 Mazda 6 Sport MZR 2.3i (115.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mini Cooper.

The Mini Cooper has a Power to weight ratio of 90.2 bhp per ton and 88.7 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Cooper competing with the 2001 Mazda 6 Sport MZR 2.3i (115.1 bhp per ton) or the 1983 Vauxhall-Opel Kadett 1.8 GTE (114.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mini Cooper generating around 88.7 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1981 Ford Fiesta XR2 (113.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 1976 Triumph 2500 TC (113.6 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 10.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 10.7 secs, this made the Mini Cooper Paceman as fast as the 2007 Mazda 2 1.5 Sport (10.40 secs) the 1977 Bentley T 2 6.8 V8 (10.40 secs) the 1965 BMW 2000 CS (10.40 secs) the or the 1964 Jaguar Mark X 4.2L Overdrive (10.40 secs). This Mini Cooper Paceman is also faster than the 1993 Toyota T100 3.0 V6 (10.50 secs) the 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth Twin Cam (10.50 secs) the 1971 Chevrolet Vega 2300 GT 4 Speed (10.50 secs) the and the 1963 Mercedes SL Class 230SL W113 (10.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Cooper and the 2014 Audi A1 1.8 TFSI S-TRONIC

When talking about the performance of the Mini Cooper on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 17.92 secs @ 76.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2014 Audi A1 1.8 TFSI S-TRONIC (17.84 secs), the 1991 Ford Escort RS 2000 4x4 MK5 (17.85 secs), and the 2000 Ford Puma 1.7i 16V Ford Racing (17.87 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Mini Cooper Paceman has a maximum speed of 119mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Cooper equals the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (130 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Mini Cooper Paceman then how about the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (130 mph), the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (130 mph), or the 2017 BMW 2 Series M240i (130 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Cooper Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mini

Car Comparison