Detroit 2011: Mini Paceman concept

If a two-door coupe version of the Mini Countryman sounds odd, that's probably because you're thinking of the Countryman as a pocket-sized SUV. Think of the Countryman (and you should) as a Golf competitor with an all-wheel-drive option, then the Paceman makes sense. It's a sort of three-door GTI. And it looks good.

Click here for more pics of the Mini Paceman concept

Which is just as well as it's going to be built, starting a bit over two years from now. Expect the usual Cooper and Cooper S engines (more powerful by then) and diesels, and yes All4 drivetrain for an extra grand or so.

Inside we're told (though the show car had rockstar blacked-out windows) that it'll be like a Countryman, but with fixed instead of sliding rear seats like any other three-door hatch.

Mini's lineup will be getting positively jammed by then. As well as the hatch, cabrio, Clubman and Countryman, this year there will be both a two-seat coupe and equivalent roadster, previewed by show cars at the Frankfurt show in 2009.

Would look good as a rally car wouldn't it? In two years time it'll be there.