Car magazine from the UK (perhaps our favorite auto mag out there) takes an in-depth look at MINI’s new “start/stop” system that debuts on the 2008 MINI (everywhere but North America). Here’s an excerpt:
>Once the engine is up to full operating temperature, the car is programmed to cut the engine when you’re at standstill with the transmission in neutral (those used to staying in gear at lights won’t get the system to work). A beefed-up, faster-acting starter will then wake the engine the instant you depress the clutch to select gear and move away.
>That’s the idea, and it works well in practice; the 1.6 restarts immediately and you’re never left waiting impatiently, even if you’re doing a tyre-burning getaway. You must adapt your driving style and select neutral every time you come to a stop for the engine to cut, and once it does you’re left in eery silence. The air-con and stereo functions continue to work (although air flow rate is less powerful) and the only telltale sign that you haven’t stalled is a flashing stop-start symbol winking in the messages display. There’s nothing complicated to befuddle Luddites.
>If you’re working on a tan and enjoy global warming, or if the system has a fault, you can push the button near the gearlever to turn the stop-start system off. But we can’t think why you’d want to. It’s a simple technology that works seamlessly in the background, and you’ll save money by letting it do its thing.
You can read more here:
[ Mini stop-start ] Car Magazine
For those in North America, expect this system to make it across the Atlantic in a year or two.
