2013 Mini Paceman: Up Close

The two-door Mini Cooper Paceman rides the same 102.2-inch wheelbase as the related four-door Cooper Countryman, but don't take that to mean it has the same space inside or out.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The Paceman is actually tad longer than the Countryman, but headroom for the two-position backseat is down half an inch; the shallower hatchback slope drops cargo volume to 11.6 cubic feet versus the upright Countryman's 16.5. Mini has yet to provide rear legroom specs, but I sat back-to-back in the Paceman and Countryman and the Paceman's backseat is cramped in all dimensions versus the well-packaged Countryman.

John Cooper Works GP Model Joins Mini Lineup

A new limited-edition Mini model is joining the lineup, and the automaker is calling it the "sportiest road-registered Mini ever made." The 2013 Mini John Cooper Works GP is a sport-tuned, race-inspired version of the two-door hatchback. It builds off the Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit that was available in 2006.

Mini says the GP uses an extensively modified version of the brand's 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; it makes 211 horsepower. The new version is faster, beating the old model's lap time on Nurburgring's Grand Prix course by about 18 seconds, Mini says. In fact, Mini calls the GP "the fastest Mini ever built" and estimates a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The car is on the stand at the L.A. Auto Show, and it's hard to miss—it's decked out in GP badging, racing stripes and specifically designed wheels and racing tires. Other exterior features include large front and rear aprons, unique side skirts and a rear spoiler and diffuser aimed at optimizing airflow. Inside, the rear seats have been removed.

Unexpected Family Car: 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman

In our pre-baby days, the mister and I were the proud owners of a Mini Cooper. With its unmistakable styling, great gas mileage, and fun handling and overall drive experience, we each had our own reasons for loving it. Once it came time for a baby, we sadly decided to say goodbye to our Mini. Sure, lots of families make it work with a two-door vehicle, but it sounded like a drag to us.

Fast-forward two years and we're now a family of three. We still have to haul things around with us, but it's nothing like the infant era where you practically bring the entire house along with you. We've also reached two huge milestones: the forward-facing convertible car seat and the umbrella stroller!

It was a case of perfect timing that I got to test-drive a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman for a week. The Countryman scratched our Mini itch, but this time it was a nearly perfect family car.

Regular Cars that Take Premium Gasoline

It's common to see "requires 91 octane gasoline for best performance" on the fuel door of sports or luxury cars. So, we scratch our heads when we see the same premium recommendation on a family car, hybrid or non-performance car. According to AAA's FuelGauge Report, the price difference between regular and premium gas is 32 cents nationally. Spending an additional $4.80 on a 15-gallon refuel isn't an insignificant amount of money, and you could save it if you buy a similarly efficient car at a similar price that runs on regular gasoline. 
 
Below is a list of cars that you may not guess recommend or require premium fuel. The manufacturer's fuel recommendation from the owner's manual or consumer website is listed alongside each vehicle. 

2013 Mini Cooper Paceman: First Look

• Competes with: Nissan Juke, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
• Looks Like: A flattened, more aggressive version of the Countryman
• Drivetrain: Base versions use a 122-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder, and S versions use the same engine, tuned to make 184 hp. Europe’s two diesel versions include a 112-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter and 143-hp 2.0-liter
• Hits dealerships: March 16 in the U.K. No word yet on when it will hit the U.S.

We first saw the oddly named, stocky, little Paceman in concept guise at the 2011 Detroit auto show. It looks like the production version is on its way. The Paceman, essentially a two-door version of the Mini Cooper Countryman, will go on sale first in Europe next spring.

The seventh member of Mini’s expanding family, the Paceman is the same length as the Countryman, but it has only two doors and seats only four passengers. It’s also more squat-looking, with a lowered suspension, sloping roofline, long doors and an integrated spoiler.

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe

Mini's lineup expanded this year to include new coupe and roadster models. These backseat-less Coopers aren't suitable for family duty, but they are the ultimate toy for the big kids. The Coupe stylish and fun to drive — if you can get past the tiny, cavelike interior and high sticker price, says Cars.com Family reviewer Kristin Varela.

2012 Mini Cooper Coupe Review

August's Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Cars

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport topped last month's fastest-selling cars — a list that mixed the usual influx of redesigns and introductions with a lot of older cars. The 2013 Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Audi A3 and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen flew off dealer lots last month. All but the A3 saw sales increases, with the Corolla, Fit and Cooper up more than 25% apiece. But all five cars have been on the market for some time since their last update, and none offer major incentives. One possible factor is gas prices, which have risen 20 cents in the past month. All five cars have variants with combined EPA mileage of 30 mpg or better.

Response to the redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe has been "nothing short of remarkable," Hyundai sales chief Dave Zuchowski said in a statement Tuesday. However, sales for the nameplate — whose redesign sprouts a new Santa Fe Sport derivative that's lumped into the same sales figure — fell nearly 50% for the month. What gives?

Sun Visors That Come Up Short

The dog days of summer are in full swing in the high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains (read: close to the sun with little ozone filtration). My kids are back to school and afterschool activities, so I'm often driving north on the highway with the earlier-setting sun scorching me relentlessly through the driver-side window.

This makes me more aware than ever about sun visors in test cars that I've been driving lately. Some are incredibly effective, like in the Ford Flex, and some simply fall flat, like in the Mini Cooper S coupe and the Lexus CT 200h (above).

Mini Goes to Work at the Olympics

A very mini Mini is stealing a tiny bit of the spotlight at this summer's Olympic Games in London. BMW is putting quarter-scale versions of the Mini Cooper to work at the track and field events at Olympic Stadium, retrieving javelins, discuses, hammers and shots from the field to the throwing area.

The radio-controlled Coopers weigh about 55 pounds and can carry approximately 18 pounds of gear. They're battery-powered and can run for about 35 minutes on a charge, according to BMW.

Three mini Minis will be on retrieval duty during the nine days of the Olympics and nine days of the Paralympics.

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Mini Adds More Zip to High-Performance Lineup

For the 2013 model year, Mini's entire high-performance John Cooper Works lineup gets a revised engine and a new optional automatic transmission. The automaker also announced that its Countryman crossover is getting a high-performance John Cooper Works model starting in the 2013 model year.

The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that's found in the John Cooper Works models now gets BMW's variable-valve timing system, otherwise known as Valvetronic. The Valvetronic system will reportedly optimize the engine's responsiveness and fuel efficiency. For the first time ever, the John Cooper Works version also can be had with an optional six-speed automatic transmission; a six-speed manual is still standard.

The new acceleration times compare almost evenly with the old ones, so we're guessing the changes will help refinement and fuel efficiency more than anything else. Fuel-efficiency figures weren't available.