MINI to Introduce BMW Based Diesel for 2011?
One of our sources at the Oxford Plant just spotted a Spice Orange (MINI’s new orange we told you about for 2011) going down the production line. What does this mean? It looks likely that this is a pre-production version of the MINI Convertible D that we’ve heard rumors going back to 2008. But more important is what’s under the hood. Our source told us that the turbo is at the back with the airbox in the. What does this mean? For starters it’s clearly not the Prince 1.6L diesel we know. Looking closer our source was adamant that it appears to be a four cylinder diesel similar (if not identical) to the 2.0L diesel found in the 320d. That car has 163 hp and gets 68.9 mpg imperial combined (that would be somewhere in the low 40 mpg range US). This is entirely inline with everything we’ve heard and reported from sources over the past year. In fact we’ve had several people tell us directly MINI intends to create a higher performance diesel that will be marketed as a Cooper S D. Is this it? Only time will tell.
Of course for our readers in the US, if it comes to market, it won’t be coming here.
We’ll have more on MINI’s 2011 refresh in the coming weeks. In the meantime check our previous reports here: Part 1 and Part 2
<p>Not coming here. Why tease us?</p>
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<p>Not coming here. Why tease us?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Because “us” are not the only people who read MotoringFile :)</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe.
I keep thinking about changing my Cooper S for a diesel whenever I fill up.</p>
<p>Diesel and petrol are the same price, but obviously it would effectively be half-price if I doubled my mpg.</p>
<p>However, I change my mind when I think of the fun I’d be missing. This would vertainly redress that imbalance.</p>
<p>It’s good news for the U.S. too, because if 90% of MINI’s sold in the UK were 2.0L diesels, surely it would improve your chances of oil burners being introduced where you are.</p>
<p>I knew the answer. Its just frustrating to see nice options available elsewhere but here. I’ve settled on a countryman for my next mini. It would be nice if it were a 2.0 diesel with mileage better than a 1.6 NA prince engine.</p>
<p>Damn it!! Another wet dream NOT coming true!!! :(</p>
<p>Makes me look forward to the next gen of Mini engines – more compact powerplant will give them more freedom in the geometry of the sheet metal</p>
<blockquote>However, I change my mind when I think of the fun I’d be missing.</blockquote>
<p>You are completely right KipperFillets. When I was living in Europe I drove a One D for 3 years and I don’t understand why anybody would want to drive a diesel car…Of course you get an awesome mpg, but it sounds like a tractor, it feels like you’re driving a tank, it shakes way too much and most of all it is slow! I could write an entire article about it;) I know regular gas has become “expensive” in the U.S but trust me when I say you should be happy to pay what you’re paying given the taxes governments apply to gas prices in Europe.</p>
<blockquote>you should be happy to pay what you’re paying given the taxes governments apply to gas prices in Europe</blockquote>
<p>Alexandre,
Here in the UK I don’t think we realise just how much of the cost of fuel the tax is. It’s always been expensive, and it’s never shown as a price “without tax”.
My wife’s Hyandai Tuscon diesel gets better milage than my MINI though, even when towing a horse box! It’s no slouch either (until you run out of revs).</p>
<p>I’d be interested to see (or rather feel) what similar power but higher torque in my MINI is like when you can’t go all the way up to 6500 rpm!</p>
<p>Hey KipperFillets, when I mentioned “you” I meant people from the US. Didn’t know you are from the UK, but you obviously fell the pain of European gas prices. I’ve been living in the US for 4 years now and I really got to understand how much taxes I used to pay when filling up my cars in France. I had the very first version of the One D, and that 75hp Toyota engine was slow a turtle. I’ll never go back to diesel and I’d rather ride a bike for my everyday commute. No offense to diesel drivers though!;)</p>
<p>Please direct all complaints and hate mail directly to the appropriate govt. regulatory agencies known here as the EPA and the DOT…the cost of federalization is too high…..No diesel for you!</p>
<p>Unless of course you just go buy a VW</p>
<p>I too would like to see the diesel option in MINIs in Canada… there is something incredible about clicking off 1200km on a tank between cities like a diesel VW can, for example… but it is not all roses. Huge strides in NVH have been made, and in the Bimmers, with their larger size, superior window seals, and ample firewall noise insulation, it doesn’t penalize a sporting driver the way it once did. But it is a shift in driving expectation… speaking for the Veedubs as that is what I have been able to experience, after the novelty wears off, it is quite boring to “rev” to only 4500rpm. And in city driving you question your diesel choice each time you roll your window down and hear the engine clatter (relative to a gasoline counterpart).</p>
<p>It’s a different kind of speed and best suited to highway travel and long road-tripping. Speaking for myself, I’m more keen on seeing the efficient smaller displacement gasoline engines BMW is working on for the gen3 MINI…</p>
<p>Spice Orange > Hot Orange?</p>
<p>As I like orange( and gulf color combos), lets hope it sticks.</p>
<p>This has actually been confirmed <strong>unofficially</strong> by MINI. In Europe, from September this year, all MINI diesels (except the Countryman) will have this engine block, shared by all 4-cylinder BMW diesels, but in the case of the MINI it will be a downtuned version similar to that fitted in the 116d (around 115 hp).</p>
<p>I’d pay 30,000 for a Cooper D. Even with the 1.6 it would still be worth it.</p>
<p>Diesel is a perfect choice for some. With the return of the TDI Golf I considered it over a MINI. But all things considered, and there’s plenty, it’s not the choice for me. The majority of my driving now is around 20 min one way. The diesel would barely be in it’s temperature sweet spot by the time I parked it. Long commute, different story. I used to think of MINI as a retirement indulgence, a bit of an impractical toy with some kinks to put up with. But with the MPG approaching diesel numbers and new engines coming, the practicality increases nicely.</p>
<p>Is “Spice Orange” similar to “Taormina Orange” Vespa uses on the S50/150? That would look really retro.</p>
<p>The latest MINI diesel is more powerful and out-performs the old R53 Cooper S for torque etc. Sure, it sounds a bit “knocky” but it goes really well and does handle like a MINI.
Most European countries have a exemption on tax on diesel fuel for farm vehicles but if it is found in your road car you can get hefty fines. Most markets colour their diesel for this purpose. Some countries have a road user tax where you buy a chunk of mileage as the tax is normally included in the petrol price. So sometimes the cost of diesel plus road user tax makes it less attractive to own a diesel car.</p>
<p>The VW/AUDI TDI engines are phenomenal both on the road and on the track. BMW diesels are also excellent performers. How could anyone suggest or allege that the BMW-powered MINI would be anything less than remarkable, economical, and exciting to drive, particularly with a few JCW “S” package tweeks.</p>
<blockquote>How could anyone suggest or allege that the BMW-powered MINI would be anything less than remarkable, economical, and exciting to drive, particularly with a few JCW “S†package tweeks.</blockquote>
<p>As Clarkson says “You can’t have this car with a diesel, its like saying, i won’t go to Stringfellows tonight, I’ll get my mum to give me a lapdance, she’s a woman!”</p>
<p>bmw 2L diesel 163hp (same in a 320d)=> with chiptuning => 210hp and more than 3OO lb-ft and high mileage… diesel power!!!!!! if mini do it, i’ll buy it. (sorry for my english, i’m from belgium and gr8 diesel fan)</p>
<p>Melis — Taormina Orange would be pretty cool on a MINI, but the description of the color posted earlier on motoring file was that Spice Orange will be a “very deep” color, and went on to compare it to Hot Orange on the R52 (which is already “deeper” than Taormina Orange), so my guess is that Spice Orange is going to be sort of paprika-colored. And, sadly, metallic.</p>
<p>And the day we get it here is the day Gabe forsakes BMW,and dumps apple for Android and a PC!</p>
<p>There is a better chance of Obama running as a Republican!</p>
<p>BMW is ill advised if they decide to to bring a performance diesel here. The MINI is enough of a quirky niche car that it would fly, whereas it might not on a more mainstream car.</p>
<p>It’s funny. Classic example of, the grass is always greener on the other side of the road 🙂 Over here in Europe, where obviously we do have the Diesel engines, people are actually complaining that Diesel engines have no place in sporty cars like the Mini 🙂 (Obviously, there are also very many happily running along in their Mini Ds :))</p>
<p>Can’t wait! If this motor can do 0-60 in 8sec inside a 3 series, guess what it can do in a MINI?!</p>