Performance Review: Mini Cooper SD Paceman - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mini Cooper Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mini Cooper SD 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 W-Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo.This particular Mini Cooper has a 1995cc Turbo 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 1390 kgs (3064 lbs) this makes the Mini Cooper SD Paceman in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 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 1995cc 16V St4 engine produces 141 bhp (105 kW) @ 4000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 225 lb-ft (305.0 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 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 1984 Renault 5 Gordini Turbo (126.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mini Cooper.

The Mini Cooper has a Power to weight ratio of 101.4 bhp per ton and 161.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Cooper competing with the 1984 Renault 5 Gordini Turbo (126.4 bhp per ton) or the 1973 MG B GT V8 (126.3 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 161.8 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 2000 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 150 (186.8 lb-ft per ton) or the 1972 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray ZR-1 (186.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 9.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 9.3 secs, this made the Mini Cooper SD Paceman as fast as the 2007 Ford Taurus AWD 3.5 V6 (9.00 secs) the 2004 Vauxhall-Opel Corsa 1.8 GSi (9.00 secs) the 2002 Land-Rover Range Rover V8 Vogue (9.00 secs) the or the 2000 Citroen C2 VTR (9.00 secs). This Mini Cooper SD Paceman is also faster than the 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.4 tsi Spaceback (9.10 secs) the 1999 Citroen Saxo 1.6i VTR (9.10 secs) the 1990 Mazda MX5 1.6 (9.10 secs) the and the 1983 Vauxhall-Opel Nova 1.6i GTE (9.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Cooper and the 1989 Audi 200 2.2T 20v Quattro

When talking about the performance of the Mini Cooper on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 17.21 secs @ 79.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1989 Audi 200 2.2T 20v Quattro (17.15 secs), the 1998 BMW 7 Series 740i E38 Auto (17.16 secs), and the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (17.16 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Mini Cooper SD Paceman has a maximum speed of 124mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Cooper equals the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6 (135 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Mini Cooper SD Paceman then how about the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6 (135 mph), the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (135 mph), or the 2018 Abarth 595 Turismo 1.4 Turbo (135 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Cooper Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mini

Car Comparison