Next Generation MINI Diesel Revealed?

Sections: In the Press | MF Feature | R56 (Hatch) Mar 28th, 2005 46 Comments

MINI2 has the scoop on what could be in the next MINI Diesel:

It would appear the MINI One D could be a thing of the past, as MINI furthers it’s co-operation with gasoline engine partner PSA Group, it looks as though the engine currently powering the 206 GTi Diesel (among other Peugeot, Citroen and Ford motor cars), will be the unit to pull along the next generation MINI Diesel.

Initially we were under the impression the new Diesel would be around 90bhp (still a possibility as there is a 90hp version of this engine used, for example, in the Ford Fiesta Zetec S Diesel), however latest information leads us to believe quite firmly a version of the 110 bhp unit will be installed in the new MINI diesel, which BMW expect to account for more than 15% of overall MINI sales at it’s peak.

You can read the entire story below:

[ 110 bhp Unit for MINI Cooper Diesel on the Horizon? ] MINI2

MF Analysis: With BMW committed to bringing a few select diesel BMW’s to the states in the coming years, it would seem that the next diesel equipped MINI may have a fighting chance of coming stateside. It doesn’t hurt that this engine also has more usable power than the current MINI One D. Something Americans tend to always approve of.

Written By: MF Staff

ajigel

This would be great if consumer-grade diesel was easy to find. With gas prices the way they are now, diesel’s looking pretty good (lower costs, better milage). I definitely wouldn’t mind having one of these.
Milwaukee Liar

I recently drove a 90 bhp VW Jetta diesel. Horsepower was adequate and I loved the MPG. A 110 bhp MCS would be awsome – Acceleration, speed, and high MPG – Wow!
Tom M

Motoring something like 600 miles without refueling. Sounds like the way it ought to be done to me. Of course, MINI will have to offer some sort of on-board restroom facility with this model. Can I place my order today?
dgszweda

I am a pretty big diesel fan, but diesel prices have been surpassing the Unleaded prices in most areas. The 110bhp version would be pretty cool. 100bhp on a diesel for this size of car, makes it pretty quick, probably quicker than the normal MC planned for 2007. On this size diesel the torque should exceed the MCS by quite a bit.
ajigel

Hey, while were at it, any clue if Mini/BMW will follow suit and develop a hybrid?

Definitely something I’m into, and I keep thinking of the diesel/electric hybrids (just think of the milage) other companies are working on and I can’t help but wonder if this type of engine will ever make it into the Mini in the not to distant future.
Brian

Any numbers for torque?
SkAlex

If the diesel comes to the states, I officially have a car for my vegetable-oil powered car project…:-D
Frank

I sincerely doubt MINI/BMW will persue a hybrid version of this car.

If you do the math, hybrids have proven to be in recent studies not pass along any significant gasoline savings over regular gasoline engine cars. In fact this stop gap technology seems to be more of a “Greener” statement than any substantial savings at the pump.

Some owners of Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid have been duly dissapointed to find out that their high tech hybrid engines don’t deliver the 50+MPG window sticker figures out in the real world.

MINI/BMW is doing the right thing by persuing the further development of more economical gas/diesel powerplants.

The hybrid technology is interesting and all, but is still in its infancy and far from perfect.
Schwarz Dietmar

Hi there,

I testdrove the 1.4L diesel from Toyota which is built into the current Mini One D version. This machine is not pulling anything. When it comes down to all what driving a Mini is about (==> FUN FUN FUN) this is not an engine to go with. A 110HP Diesel is the right way to steer. Torque is a lot higher than compared to a same powered gasoline engine. Probably you could say it’ll compare to a 160 HP gas engine. Power will be provided at about 1600 RPM’s so you don’t have to wait until the needle hits abt. 3500 RPM to feel something. I would have bought the Diesel if it was offered in the US. Gas prices here are fine but I’ll take the car over to Germany after my work assignement in the US is over and with Gas prices right now of abt. US$ 6.50/gal you definatly do not want to drive a 170 HP/1.6 ltr engine sucking up 10 liters/100km.
mini vanilli

here is what i found out about the engine. it is a review of the same engine in another car.

“But PSAÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s 1.6 16v diesel drives completely differently. It stumps up 180 lb ft torque at 1,750rpm and 110bhp at 4,000rpm. But it also Ã¢â‚¬ËœoverboostsÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ in the higher gears only, giving up to 195lb ft. So itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s eager rather than raucous from a standing start, then has a lovely lump of mid-range urge that doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t suddenly peter out like all-or-nothing VAG engines. It even revs smoothly right the way to 5,200rpm, giving 50 in 2nd, 81 in 3rd, 114 in 4th and a theoretical 142 in 5th. And while this isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t the 6,000 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 7,000 rpm of a true GTI, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s enough to feel very like one. This car is seriously good fun to drive.”
Frank

I am currently paying $2.35 per gallon of 93 octane Premium gasoline. Right now I am using public transporation (Metro) more than ever before. I am driving my MCS only for fun and to places that the Miami Metro system won’t take you near by.

US$2.35 is a little less than half of what driver’s in the European Union pay at the pump. Still, gas is very expensive now days and trips either need to be cut or justify. Still I am glad to own 2 fuel frugal MINIs. I cringe to think what the weekly gasoline bill is for owners of SUVs, specially the big behemoths in the likes of Suburbans, Expeditions and Hummers…
Schwarz Dietmar

Hydrogen or natural gas would be my favorite to be offered in a Mini but as far as the additional gas tank ==> where to put it ? some gas stations in germany are upgrading now to natural gas, you’re able to find a gas station providing this type of fuel every 20 miles. Power will reach approx. 90% when switching to natural gas. All cars offered right now (Volvo V70, Golf station wagon, FIAT Multipla) are bi-fuels with two gas tanks (standard gas/natural gas).
Jeff

I really wish automakers would expose the US driving public to decent diesel automobiles. As evidenced by the comments here, most of the public isn’t ready for it, but they’re never going to be ready for it until they have access to the cars and given a chance to learn that although HP sells cars, TQ makes them fun.

IMO, this is a better interim step to greener cars than the hybrids are.
Frank

The trucking industry and oil companies are 2 of the culprits, in my view, that have prevented the availability of low sulfur diesel fuels, required by high tech diesel engines here in the USA.

Diesels have had a bad rap in the past, but I agree that high tech diesel engines are a much better alternative than the Hybrids that is a complex technology with no real world high MPG figures to justify it.
michael Boice

Hey SkAlex,

Did you know the diesel was originally developed to run on peanut oil? I work for a company in the midst of supplementing our diesel fuel needs with vegie fuel. Fun stuff!
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

BMW doesn’t do hybrid technology due to many of the concerns that Frank mentioned above. They have instead relied on developing frugal (yet powerful) diesel engines. The BMW 330d for instance has over 400Nm of torque (peak power at 1750!) yet averages over 40mpg! Try that in a hybrid.

BMW has also long been a proponent of Hydrogen technology and actually have already developed a prototype hydrogen MINI. Look for Hydrogen to play a bigger role in BMWs cars in the next 10-20 years.
Brian

A MC Diesel with that power I would surely buy. 500 Miles per tank with Cooper S performance. Nice.

I Live in Miami Beach by the way, I’ve seen a few places where they sell Diesel.
Frank

Hey Brian, I am currently motoring around Miami Beach right now…. Aweful weather and too hot!
Brian

Frank,

Cold front comes in tonight to sweep away the clouds. For the rest of the week it will be cooler and sunny.
Schwarz Dietmar

Yep,

the Hydrogen test version of the Cooper you’ll find at http://www.mini2.com/news/news80.html The pump is full automatic, fast as a turtle (needs forever to fill up) and is currently the only one in whole germany. But sure this technology will be the future. Guess Mercedes and BMW have some joint venture with the incumbent of this technonoly (Ballard Power).
F.R Walter

I wonder if I’ll get my dream winter car. An all wheel drive diesel MINI van??
John

Major changes are coming next year in the USA; we get mandated Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD).

With this change (one that finally lines up the USA with the rest of the world), we will see the re-introduction of diesel powered cars and trucks for consumer use.

Several companies, led by Volkswagen AG, will bring vehicles here starting late next year. There are some behind-the-scenes efforts to either promote or kill this trend (depending on the politics of the group involved), but diesel will work here this time because it is a technology whose time has arrived.

There are interesting problems too. An example is reduced lubricity of ULSD. This will be managed with additives, BUT it opens the door to creative solutions like biodiesel which can fix the lubricity issues with blends as low as B2 (2% biodiesel, 98% petroleum diesel).

You’ll see all kinds of spins out of this. We will get some cool cars, and trucks, including the MINI I heard (not in 2006). Because diesel has not been a part of our experience here for a very long time, it will grow to become “hot” in America.

You’ll catch yourself talking about diesel much more in the next year. There is a set of very reasons why nearly all the trucks use diesel, and those same reasons apply to cars if we let them.
Nathan

Bring on the MINI diesel!!!
Bill Lawrence

I would have a diesel long before hybrid.

Has anyone ever driven a hybrid car?

Certainly not for the driving enthusiast. The driving characteristics of a hybrid are more akin to products by EZ-GO than BMW.

I’m glad that BMW is going the direction of hydrogen and diesel, rather than hybrid/electric.
john

bring on the diesel MINIs!

i’d surely love to run a biodiesel MINI.. fuel efficiency, torque AND not having to send $ to the fat cats in the middle east..
Schwarz Dietmar

another reason why it’d be wise to switch FAST from the old 90 HP engine to the 110 HP engine ==> the Mini One D engine has it’s max speed at about 165 km/h = approx. 103 mph. While this seems to be sufficient for the US market (where the Diesel engine is not the strong seller anyway) in “Euro-Land” (especially Germany) 165 Km/H is an average travelling speed. A car like the Mini should have at least a vmax of 125 mpH = 200 km/h. Due to it’s high taxation of Diesel Cars in Germany basically people which are going high mileage due to lower consumption are driving diesel cars. Needless to say that they will travel mainly on the highway were you can go as fast as the car can….. Since I read this article I cannot wait to test-drive the 110 HP-Diesel version.
John

To comment on some of the comments…

We are coming into a wonderfully exciting time for auto enthusiasts, because choices will actually increase in the years just ahead and the experiments of the past 20 years are ready to come into the market.

Diesel fuel is one of these, especially for America. 2006 is the first big milestone date, 2009 the second. The regulatory direction will be determined by how several states decide to proceed (WA, OR, ID are current examples).

Power transmission is another. There are some truly wild alternatives out there.

Don’t make the mistake of looking at the current experiments as distinct alternatives. “Diesel” is really NOT separate from “hybrid” or “electric”. An evolutionary midpoint may well be PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), powered by a diesel engine; a combination of them all.

Hydrogen is politically sexy, an impractical and difficult idea, and a very, very long time away from any meaningful implementation.

The idea of “sustainable” will come into nearly every aspect of our lives, including cars. This is exciting, technically interesting, and a responsible way to view our role in the future.

A senior exec at Volkswagen AG told us that “driving will continue to be lots of fun.” VW is betting on diesel in a very big way, because they see it as one of very few economically viable ways to proceed. Toyota, Ford, GM, BMW, and the others all have significant programs underway.
Shawn

I want a mini, and I want it to be a diesel, and I want that diesel to be able to run biodiesel. Period. Gas is up to $2.53/gal here in Oregon, and going up up up. I know we’re on the low side compared to Europe, but it’s starting to get out of hand.

Diesel is definitely a great way to go, I’d love for MINI to send me a Diesel to test drive and show off to everyone. I do enough driving and love talking to people. Let me drive one please! :)
J Poch

I am looking forward to a Mini diesel for the United States. Why a biodiesel hybrid is not seen as militarily and financially strategic concern is beyond me. I intend on holding off my purchase of my next car and hope this one will be available early 2007.
mk2subzero

I currently own a 2004 New Beetle TDI and love getting between 40 and 50mpg running on diesel. I would be one of the first to get a diesel powered MINI if they make it over here to the US, especially if it can meet or beat what I am currently getting with my “bug”. Yeah, diesel costs a little more than gas, but when you are getting almost twice the mileage of most cars on the road, it more than makes up for price difference.
Markus

The diesel vs hybrid discussion is interesting…

I traded my 03 MCS in for an 05 Prius, for many reasons, one of them mileage.

Those unsympathetic to hybrid technology always tout the fact that hybrids don’t get the EPA posted mileage, but, honestly which car does? Not one! I agree that hybrids are not the ultimate solution, and that a clean burning diesel is a strong contender for a green car. However, they both shine in different areas: Diesels are great for mostly highway driving, hybrids are great in city driving.

In my MCS I averaged a calculated (not OBC indicated) 24 mpg in mixed driving. The mean between EPA city and Hwy for the MCS is 28 mpg. My real life 24mpg is 14,25% less than EPA. In my Prius my current running lifetime average is 49 mpg, twice that of the MINI. The avg EPA for the Prius is 55, and thus my 49mpg is 10.1% less than EPA, a smaller discrepancy than for the MCS! I do have to admit though that if you want to, you can drive the Prius such that you will average below 30mpg! A susbtantial portion of the difference in mpg between these two cars is how they make you drive. The MCS is so much fun, it made me drive in a far less frugal way. The Prius on the other hand oozes ‘green’ and most owners as a result try to eek out every additional yard from every drop of fuel.

Both are cool cars, both have their place in the market. If at the time of giving up my MCS, a diesel MINI had been available, I would ave very seriously considered it.

Cheers, M.
Eddie

I currently drive an ’03 Mazda Protege5. Love the car and packaging. The 2.0L gas engine gets OK mileage (probably average 25-27 mpg). But if I could get a compact wagon with a nice little torquey mill in it (say 125-130 horse and 180-200 lbs./ft.) and 45-50 mpg, I’d be all over it. I’d even consider another VW (after my somewhat negative experience with my ’00 GTI.) Though I’d go with another brand before I’d go back to VW. I’d consider a Mini diesel, but would like something a little bigger and more practical.
Kevin

Whoever wrote “HP is what sells cars and Torque makes them fun” is a huge understatement. I so agree. The typical layman public is easily “wowed ” by the high HP numbers.Hey, years ago I got sucked into this marketing too.Honda and Toyota are somewhat notorius for touting high HP numbers with peaky redlines. Yes 7000, 7500, or even 8000 redlines sound sexy…..Let about 6mos go by after ownership and you realize you have to beat the crap out of the engine to overtake traffic.Torque is typically AWOL. I am an owner of a modified 02 MCS with 30k miles and pulley ,exhaust and intake.Yes,fast. I am holding off purchase of its replacement until more news come through on a sport diesel variant.With suggested HP of 110….dosent sound like fun does it?…but when you hear of torque at 180-195 or so…plus 40-50+mpg…a typical cake and eat it too scenario……..HA!just spank my bottom and wipe that grin off my face. C’Mon BMW you have the spunk to pull it off. We are rooting for you. As Nike would say–Just do it.
Dave Hann

This is all good reading, but with no mention of the Euro VW TDI engines. They have a 130 hp version with 225 lb.ft of torque. And a 150 hp version with around 240 of torque.

My cousin has a 150,and has done some reprogramming to get around 180 hp and close to 300 torque. In gear passing is unbelievable even when using the stock program.
http://www.kgpauto.com Alex Woodrow

The new generation of 16v VW diesels are even better. The European Golf 2.0l TDI is 136ps with 320Nm (236lb ft)

The new Passat also has a 168ps version of the same engine with even more torque.

This engine should come to the US eventually with ULSD.

However Toyota will shortly introduce a 2.2l diesel in European Avensis and Lexus with a 178hp version this has a whopping 400Nm (295lb ft)
Traveller

MINI ONE D should come in traveller or estate type versions with more room for longer distances or world tours. How about a caravan version?
Traveller
Traveller

MINI ONE D should come in traveller or estate version for more space for long distances & world tours. How about a caravan version?
Tim Bentley

American motorists are in for a huge shock when (if) they finally discover modern diesel cars. I drive an Audi A4 1.9tdi Avant in the UK and can easily get 55mpg at a steady 60-70mph (top speed 120mph).The car in quiet and there’s no smell of diesel.Did you know Audi even sell a diesel A4 Cabriolet in the UK ? I’ll never go back to petrol !
AndrewD

Note to BMW marketing…yes, indeed, in the US the number that people pay attention to is HORSEPOWER. So the way to market a Mini Diesel is to STAY AWAY FROM THAT NUMBER AT ALL COSTS! Concentrate on, say, acceleration and fun instead. Pictures of grinning drivers slaloming past gas stations….

We’ve still got our heads in the sand over here. Car advertising totally ignores economy and is still hyping huge cars and SUVs…and the manufacturers are continuing to come out with bigger, more powerful machines all the time. This is of course just the end of the pipeline…the new behemoths were conceived years ago. Things will get smaller and greener over time. But every time I see ANOTHER new SUV introduced I get a little bit more angry.

I REALLY want a diesel Mini. I love economy, but I love an entertaining drive even more!
http://pennyjulie@webtv.net Oscar Pennington

Interested in the Mini diesel and when it is coming to the USA. I driven deisel for years , now I have a Mercedes Sprinter CDI desisel , and get anywhere from 28mpg to 33 mpg . Very good for a van that weight is approximately 5500 lbs. We have it made into a motorhome. Interested in Mercedes Smart deisel in Canada or Mini deisel , when can we buy one in Canada and bring it into USA?
Perry Riggins

I will purchase one as soon as it is out! Diesel is our most intelligent response to the sky-rocketing pump prices.
Erik

I drive a 2003 VW Golf TDI with 35k on the odometer. To put it simply, the car performs brilliantly. I average 45 mpg COMBINED (city/ hwy) – I get upwards of 50mpg while driving conservatively (60mph) on the highway. While I am not averse to hybrid technology, Toyota is really ‘fluffing’ their MPG statements. 50/60 city/hwy for the prius? Not bloody likely. Friends of mine (eco-friendly friends) own a Prius and can just squeak out 41mpg combined; and that’s while driving at 55mph hwy/ no lead foot in city. While not a bad number (41mpg), my TDI cost 17k out the door and gets 45mpg (they paid nearly 20k for the Prius). Considering that is MORE than the EPA estimates, I thoroughly believe that hybrid technology is being artifically ‘inflated’ and exaggerated by the manufacturers and gov’t. If we do the math, 45mpg vs 41mpg combined/ nearly 2-3k less initial cost to buy the Golf TDI…isn’t the winner obvious. Did I forget to mention the Golf TDI is still a blast to drive – I can carve through corners and off-ramps with a smile on my face and pass cars with ease on the highway in 5th gear. Honestly, I find it hard to believe the 90hp claim VW rates their TDI at!
Nick

I had heard that mini might start using peugot (however you spell it) engines and I knew that they made good diesels…So I hope that they might make a mini diesel. I would trade my diesel jetta in for that!!! I mean I love my jetta, it gets between 48 to 50 mpg, but a MINI! that would rock!
Basil

I tried one of the Toyota D4D-equipped Mini One D’s here in the UK. 80bhp in a Mini? No thanks, my mother’s 1965 900cc felt peppier.

I’m at a loss why diesel hasn’t caught on more in the US. Here, we pay around 95 pence – about $2 – per LITRE of unleaded petrol, and slightly more for diesel – so about 4.5 times what you guys are talking about. Economy is thus slightly important here. I’d intended to use the Mini D for fun for a commute around London’s M25 orbital motorway – probably the world’s fastest car park. The Mini didn’t have the economy required either. I needed performance and good mpg.

I settled instead, having ignored the fun factor, and bought a VW Passat 1.9 130hp diesel, and got 57mpg at 80mph+, as well as somewhere to put my legs…

I doubt 110bhp will be enough either. The hot hatchback diesel car of choice in Europe is – wait for this – the Skoda Fabia vRS, which uses the same engine as my Passat had, but in a car not much larger than the Mini. Currently, manufacturers are looking to squeeze 200+bhp from 2.0 litre diesels by using sequential turbocharging. In the economy space, it’s now getting normal to get 75mpg+ from a small diesel. The Mini needs a breakthrough engine pairing in diesel – a One D with a high economy engine, and, heaven forbid, maybe a Cooper D with a sequential turbocharger?
Levi

There is some seriously good info on here! Whether or not it is all “accurate” or not is another story, BUT I’m taking it all in.

Count me in as one more to support and bring the Cooper D over to the U.S.

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