From Autoblog Green, who got the chance to talk to Jim McDowell last week at the LA Auto Show and heard first hand a few of the rumors we’ve been reporting over the past year. Here’s an excerpt:
Basically, things have changed. In July, the MINI factory in Oxford England was running full tilt to keep up with demand. Since then, the collapse of the financial markets has meant a drop in sales, including MINI sales, across the board and around the world. That means more supply is now available than demand and we could get more MINIs in America if needed. The other issue is the technical one about US certification. That, too, is being addressed. According to McDowell, BMW is working on a Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant version of the MINI D engine. Instead of urea injection for NOx reduction, this would use a lean NOx trap like the Jetta TDI. While McDowell wouldn’t commit to a time-frame, it looks like we may get the MINI D sooner rather than later.
Originally our sources told us to expect the first MINI diesel in the US to come in the form of the Crossover (R60). However with all the above falling into place we could very well see the current MINI Cooper D in the US as soon as 2010 or 2011.
Leftlanenews.com, along with many other automotive journalists at the LA Auto Show this week, got the chance to actually drive the MINI E.
The Mini E is one of few cars that allows you to pull up next to a Prius, like the one with the personalized “LESS OIL†license plate we saw on our test drive, and smugly look down upon the gas-guzzling heathen behind the wheel. The Mini E uses no oil other than a few drops here and there for moving parts lubrication. Take that, Prius.
With a limited range and limited cargo capacity, the Mini E is a strictly in-town commuter car, and at that it excels. Handling is mostly on par with a standard Mini, though it’s possible to get the front end a little more squirrely here than in the gas version.
Didn’t make it to the press preview at the LA Auto Show yesterday? No worries, we’ve got you covered with a full look at the MINI E introduction and press conference as well as some shots of the car itself driving around the LA area.
By far the most popular display during the first Press Day at the LA Auto Show was the unveiling of the MINI E. The crowd started gathering an hour before the MINI E was uncovered and were not disappointed.
I also have audio from the event plus a little video. Keep an eye out for that later today.
Do you want to lease a MINI E? You now have your chance. MINI USA has officially opened the application process today on MINIUSA.com. But be warned, not only do you have to live near New York or LA and be willing to pay $850 a month, but you’ll only have until December 10th to get your application in. So start your clicking…
MINI Release: The MINI Cooper family of products has been awarded top honors in the compact car category of the 2009 Best Resale Value Awards presented by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, a leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information. Additionally, the MINI Cooper has been named to the Top 10 models list, which recognizes best resale values across all vehicle segments.
These latest honors from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com mark the sixth year in a row that the MINI Cooper has won in either the compact car, hatchback or convertible categories, and also the sixth time it has earned a spot in the overall list of Top 10 models. continued →
1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Hatch R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Hatch 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: Hatch R57: Convertible R58: Coupe R59: Roadster R60: MINI Crossover R61: MINI Crossover Coupe 3rd Gen MINI F55: Clubman F56: Hatch F57: Convertible F60: MINI Crossover F62: Traveller
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Sections: Diesel, Efficiency Nov 24th, 2008 20 Comments 
