It was introduced as the Paceman Concept at the 2011 North American International Auto Show.

[2] Like the Countryman, the Paceman was offered with a choice of two or four-wheel drive (known as ALL4), and with 1.6-litre petrol or diesel and 2.0-litre diesel inline four engines in various states of tune.

[2] Unlike most of the Mini range, the Paceman was not manufactured in the UK but in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr, along with the Countryman.

[3][4] The model derivatives followed a similar pattern to the Mini Hatch, with a choice of Cooper/Cooper D, Cooper S/Cooper SD and John Cooper Works derivatives.

The All4 all-wheel drive option was available on variable models depending on the market.