MINI to drop Toyota diesel in 2008

…swapping a Toyota motor for a Ford/Citroen motor? That's sounds kinda crazy to me. Cummins makes pretty good diesels (for Ford) but when was the last time your drove a Citroen with a great motor? Yikes…

I hear ya Gabe, but the problem is that French cars in general have a rather dismal reliability record in North America. French products have never been able to demonstrate any lasting dependability. The last new French car sold in the US was in the year 1993 and I believe was the Peugeot 405 sedan (The 505 series were not imported any longer after '93-'94).

I have been to Europe many times (Including France) and have seen first hand the current generation of French cars…Renaults, Citroens and Peugeots. Very nice vehicles and seem to hold their own against what Germany and Japan have to offer but still within the realm of Europe, French and Italian cars are more troublesome than its Germanic counterparts.

My point is this: The French have to once and for all prove themselves here. Their cars and powertrains need to be equal or better than anything else being sold in this market.

I have no confidence at this point in a BMW-PSA developed engine just because of this dubious quality precedent.

Peugeot was suppossed to be back in US shores this year…what ever happened to thier plans to come back to America???

37mpg isn't enough? There is no room for a hybrid electric motor and I wouldn't want to sacrifice performance. This car is supposed to be sporty and fun, if you want better milleage a Honda Insight may be more appropriate.

Wow, 37 mpg. What items were removed from the car to get that kinda mileage? =:o

On the highway, I don't recall getting anything better than 32mpg.

Any word on when a diesel will make it here?

This is pretty old news. While the statement had not been directly made, the fact that the joint venture back in 2002 stated that a new line of petrol and diesel engines would be manufactured by BMW/PSA to be used in the Mini and other Peugot cars. What may be interesting is to see if these engines appear in the BMW 1-series. Either early on, or later.

I think generally speaking PSA makes some pretty good diesel engines. Obviously Toyota thinks so to, as they have entered into an agreement to jointly make diesel engines with PSA. I think that PSA gets slighted because in general Puegot and Citroen cars have historically been unreliable. Most of the unreliability has been centered around other aspects and not the engines.

It appears that the BMW will be responsible for R&D and that PSA will be responsible for manufacturing and procurement. This interesting, and will be interesting to see what BMW designs. Also, these engines will be used in Peugot automobiles as well. So it looks like BMW is designing them for not only the BMW but also the Peugot. Also, I read a notice that these will not be used in the 1-series. So I take back my statement earlier.

With the close of their deal with Chrsyler, it looks like the Brazilian plant will be closed down.

“37mpg isnt enough?”

Not in the UK it isn't! When you can have hot diesel hatches such as the Skoda Fabia VRS over here returning figures not far from 60mpg yet still pushing out 130bhp, a good diesel engine in the MINI would make all the difference. I test drove the MINI oneD before opting for the coop. The salesmen were even slating the engine…

I WOULDLIKE TO SEE TOYOTA SELLING CARS- WITH DIESEL MOTOR.BEST MILEAGE AND DURA BILITY…THE BEST…

All your comments on the above about PSA engines and reliability is just crap to say the least. If they are serviced every 10,000 kms as the manufacturer states then you will not have a problem. I have run a Citroen diesel to 600,000kms not a problem just regular servcing, a Peugeot 405 diesel, still have it now 1.2 million kilometres – has had 2 clutches but has NEVER let me down. I bought a brand new mini cooper in 2002, this was the most unreliable car I have ever owned and then to pay $760-00 for the first service – you must be joking. I say go Mini and get your PSA engine. I may think then about buying another Mini but until then forget it.

hi all, if you are in the uk,you would want the peugot/citroen 1.4 td.70 mpg.cruise quietly at 90 mph.i currently have two peugots,one 2 litre hdi,one 1.4 litre hdi.they are fantastic engines.thats why they want it in the mini.geoff

Way to kill the post, Olie.

Well obviously BMW knows more about THEIR industry than some novice posting their opnion on the net. BMW would NOT go with Ford if they were crap, think about it. They have a reputation to keep. I have and know many people with the Ford Powerstroke, that Navistar/International helps produce that are way over the 5, 6, and 7 hundred thousand mile range with nothing wrong with them! I do not see toyota diesels in commercial applications like Ford!

Not to wreck the site,but.. Hino merged with Toyota in 1982. They produce commercial vehicles. What heavy duty commercial diesel does FORD produce in house?? AND WHO CARES.

I thought the states were getting the better diesel, considering there are more diesel cars on the market. (http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/93338/article.html) It’s just crazy that we can’t get more economical cars over here. Not everyone wants to drive a gas guzzler. It’s crazy to think that a car that gets 26mpg is consider great, when it’s counterpart diesel engine can get up to 50mpg.

I also read somewhere that Mini can’t sell their diesel models in the states because of the Yaris… Maybe another reason why they are changing manufactures?

Anyway, does anyone know how a gringo can buy a diesel and have it shipped here?

I drove a four door ford fiesta powered by a 1.6L turbodiesel in France recently and averaged 55 mpg in mixed city, highway, mountain driving over a two week period. The 5 speed it had was quite adequate, and the car had plenty of power to stay up with traffic or go up hills. If Mini ever sells a car in the US with that kind of set up I will beat a path to their door with checkbook in hand. I would prefer that over a hybrid.