Pursuits
BMW Mini Seen Fending Off Fiat Challenge With New Paceman: Cars
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A dozen years after inventing the nostalgia-hip segment of the car market, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s Mini is finding itself increasingly squeezed by Fiat’s zippy little 500. Now, the Germans are pushing back with the Paceman, a two-door crossover coupe designed to keep the brand top of mind among young urban buyers.
The Paceman will be the seventh model in what has become a key part of BMW’s lineup, giving the world’s largest maker of luxury cars a growing presence in compacts with a brand that customers are willing to pay a premium for. Mini’s importance for BMW will rise as the manufacturer shares more parts between the two brands to lower costs and stay ahead of Audi.