MINI have announced yet another new model their line-up. But unlike the others, this one looks quite different. Strange even.

They call it the world’s first “Sports Activity Coupé in the premium small and compact vehicle segment”. They also call it the Paceman. It looks like it’s got a typical MINI underneath a totally radical body. It also looks like someone left it in the oven to cook for too long.

Not that it looks bad, though.

You can’t blame MINI for trying new things in the design bedroom. We’ve seen Countrymans, Clubmans, JCWs, and a whole line of different interpretations of what the MINI brand should represent, and the MINI Paceman isn’t an exception. It’s one of the most radically different of the lot.

We saw it first as a concept car some years ago at the Detroit Auto Show, and in 2012 it was announced that the car would be introduced into the market as its seventh model in 2013. And here it is, ready for its tour of auto shows around the world.

From the photos we’ve been sent in the above gallery, we can tell it looks massively different from what’s typically MINI and yet, you won’t mistake a Paceman for being anything other than a MINI at first glance.

The Paceman will come with four engine variants; a 1.6l petrol with BMW’s twin-scroll turbo, a 1.6l petrol, 2l turbodiesel, and a 1.6l turbodiesel.

The body structure of the Paceman is said to be “crash-optimised” for improved safety, along with a range of safety features to keep passengers and driver safe.

The chassis and suspension geometry promises to be typically MINI-esque by maintaining ‘minimalist’ ideals. There will however be a ‘Sport’ button available as an option to your Paceman.

The biggest talking points with the MINI Paceman remains its looks and while we don’t agree that they’re Gallardo-gorgeous, it’s not that bad either.