While news of the latest Mini variant – a cross-coupe based on the Countryman – may have been met with skepticism, viewing the Paceman Concept first hand proves it to be one of the more impressive cars unveiled in Detroit.

Sitting on the Countryman's wheelbase, and identical ahead of the A-pillars, the Paceman successfully avoids that car's slightly teetering tall and narrow stance by cutting 20mm height out of the top of the windscreen and introducing a much more horizontal design theme. The upward-swept shoulder line and ‘reverse baseball-cap' roof (from Frankfurt 2009's Coupe Concept), which crowns ahead of the driver, combine with the wrap-around glazing to endow the Paceman with an impressively planted stance, somewhat reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque.

The biggest change comes at the rear of the car, where Mini has finally broken free of the vertical taillight stack, enlarging the unit and re-orientating it horizontally, visually widening the rear of the car. There's some subtly impressive surfacing on show too, with a gently blown rear fender surface creating visual interest in the shoulder line highlight and a particularly elegant resolution of the lower light-catcher in the base of the door. The details are cartoonishly oversized, but work in the overall design theme and a context of the Paceman being aimed at a youth-orientated American market that doesn't need four doors, for whom the Mini hatch is just too small.

Speaking with Head of Exterior Design at Mini, Marcus Syring, we learned that the Paceman, which was shown without interior, was developed in Mini's Munich studio in four months and that a 1950's Jaguar XK inspired the jade green exterior paint color. Beautifully complemented by the brushed-copper finish of the fender detail and leather of the touch points, we're hoping it's a sign that Mini's about to become a little less jingoistic in its personalization options.

Related Articles:
Driven: Mini Countryman

The production-ready BMW 6-Series makes its world debut in convertible form, following on from the 6-Series Coupe Concept displayed last year in Paris.

As we suspected, the 'Concept' billing was a thin disguise for the production version of BMW's grand tourer. Its DRG is virtually unchanged, with only minor alterations to grille and headlamp inserts and the addition of towing eye, parking sensor and headlamp washer covers. Otherwise its face – which marks a thematic departure for BMW with its drawn-back lamp graphics – remains as impressive as in Paris.

Likewise the wonderfully subtle-yet-precise surfacing that runs through its flanks is equally as flawless as the concept's, despite being more difficult to read under the harsh light of its Detroit stand and in champagne coachwork. Its stance is compromised by the 19-inch wheels fitted to the show car however, which fail to fill the muscular flare of the rear fender in both diameter and width.

However, there's no denying the integration of the convertible's roof has compromised the overall design. Its shutlines are wide enough to visually dominate the rear of the car, particularly against a light color. The shut that runs from the tail light, parallel to the deck, visually slims what is already a slender shoulder, unable to latch onto an existing part line, as was the case with the previous generation. The leading edge of the trunk lid also cuts abruptly across the rear deck.

Meanwhile the tonneau cover's flying buttress panel is unrefined in execution, sitting heavily on the flat rear deck. Its overly-chunky chrome surround exacerbates the issue. Add the CHMSL, larger, bumper-mounted reflectors and cutaway at the trunk lid's lower edge and the result is an additional degree of visual noise that slightly detracts from the purity of the concept.

Its interior is similarly faithful to the Paris preview car, with a rather conservative IP architecture spiced up by the tornado-like surface which runs from the center armrest, up the side of the center stack and forms the surface above the glovebox lid.

Overall the 6-Series Convertible retains the proportions and surfacing that impressed us so much in the Paris. However, the rather comprised shutline treatment and detail execution removes a degree or two of luster.

Related Article:
BMW Concept 6 Series - Paris 2010

Volkswagen today revealed an all-new Passat, specifically designed for the US market. Effectively occupying a space between its European namesake and the larger Phaeton, the 'American Passat' measures 4868mm in length and 1833mm in width, making the new car 99mm and 13mm larger than its European counterpart, respectively.

Unlike the European Passat – which was unveiled with a new front face and rear end design in Paris last year – the new car features all-new body panels and a new, larger interior. Though initially destined for sale in the North American market, the Passat's design and engineering execution took place at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg studio, with color and trim and detail aspects undertaken at the German automaker's California design center (DCC).

The result is a conservative design that follows on from VW's current design language, leaving some of the designers we spoke to skeptical as to whether this would be successful in the American market. Though while some used the words 'predictable', 'dull' and 'boring' to describe its exterior design, others thought it was 'simple', 'classic' and 'elegant'.

Inside, the interior follows the same horizontal design theme of its European sibling, with a layered IP and color break, but the tactile quality of the plastics are below par, the center-mounted clock looks cheap and the lack of attention to detail lets it down. It would have been nice to see the same level of material quality and execution found in the automaker's European products.

The Passat's main competitors in the mid-size segment are the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry; perennial bestsellers because of their infallible reliability. But Volkswagen's new mid-size offering will also go up against the Hyundai Sonata, a more flamboyant design with a high quotient of perceived quality and value. That's tough competition for the Passat. Volkswagen's classical design theme and necessary compromises to attain a lower, more competitive price point may have a negative impact on sales in the world's most competitive marketplace.