JCW Diesel in the Works?
This one comes to us from AutoExpress who is claiming that MINI will be producing a JCW version of the MINI D, complete with 160HP. While the information seems tenuous at best (something you’d expect from a magazine with Autoexpress’ track record) we wanted to post it to let you make up your own mind.
>During an interview with a senior engineer, we posed the question of whether diesel power would ever be an option for the JCW brand. He wouldn’t confirm the existence of an oil-burning variant, but commented that it would be a “good ideaâ€. With the project still on the drawing board, buyers shouldn’t expect the new oil-burner to arrive this year.
We aren’t sure when exactly we’ll see this in the marketplace (if ever) so we’re filing it squarely in the rumor category for now.
[ Diesel Cooper Works on way ] AutoExpress.co.uk
<p>bet that would be pricey</p>
<p>And completely not worth the money. Call me crazy, but I’m not sure that the performance-oriented drivers purchasing John Cooper Works cars are really the right demographic to focus a diesel on. I mean, we enjoy smoking some pretty hot cars off the line, and we take great pleasure in out-handling some fairly stiff competition (literally). I’m perfectly fine with the roughly 27 mpg my ’04 JCW MCS gets, despite the fact that it’s down from 32 mpg-ish since the kit was installed.</p>
<p>I’d absolutely LOVE to see the MINI One D (I’m so used to calling it that, sorry!) come to the USA, I’m just not sold on a JCW variant built for performance as I think MINI would be missing the mark entirely. A diesel with some JCW options from their interior line, or some of their other premium accessories would be totally cool. A JCW “GT Pack” of sorts for the MINI D might be the way to go.</p>
<p>But if you’re green enough to put down for a diesel, I’ll bet you’re not going to be interested in anything that would put a dent in that fuel economy.</p>
<p>I don’t see this happening. Maybe a performance enhanced D, like Jack suggested, but again I don’t know who would buy it.</p>
<p>MINI missed the mark with the R56 JCW, which is why they’re rethinking the JCW package. Diluting it further by adding a diesel variant just plain doesn’t make sense; the JCW should be special and somewhat iconic. A move like this is so counterintuitive.</p>
<p>Talk about a worthless production!</p>
<p>I have a bridge to sell you….</p>
<p>So lemme get this straight……. MINI has been dragging yer feet to bring over a standard issue MINI ONE D….So what makes you all think they will market a JCW Diesel? What an oxymoron, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Really, there’s more to think about than that… 1.6l turbo-diesel make about the same HP as a 1.6l N/A motor. While it has loads of torque, it doesn’t have the RPM range.</p>
<p>So if you’re going to make a JCW diesel with huge power (not just torque), you’d have to work with a completely different engine. Bigger.</p>
<p>Audi and Mercedes have made some performance cars with diesel, but they have pretty large displacements…</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Matt, I know Audi and MB have impressive turbo diesels in their Euro market offerings. As a matter of fact, I have a friend that drove them all as he worked for VW for nearly 11 years.</p>
<p>But as far as this article is concerned, I just have a hard time believing it. MINIUSA has come up with all sorts of rethoric against bringing a lowly MINI ONE D to our shores, much less a specialty JCW Diesel car…please!</p>
<p>Speaking of non-US bound diesel offerings here in the US, Yesterday afternoon I was driving behind a brand spanking new VW T5 Multivan TDI. If you remember the old VW Eurovan you’ll know that VW pulled the T4 based vans from the US market years ago and instead of the teutonic based offering now they sell a rebadged Dodge Caravan minivan as the Routan (Which has been a flop according to my own sources).</p>
<p>The T5 is the current VW full size van sold in Europe and other world markets, but not North America. The T5 I saw yesterday had the 2.5L TDI VW engine that returns 30-35MPG in the highway…Remember this is a big vehicle. It had Michigan manufacturer plates and was heading towards VW offices here in downtown Miami.</p>
<p>Seems to me that VW fears the final collapse of Chrysler-Cerberus (Read: No more Routans) and they maybe reconsidering their decision to re-introduce the true Germanic T series based wagons to the US market.</p>
<p>I have serious doubts about this happening at all. The source is AutoExpress and they have a dubious track record at best.</p>
<p>I don’t think MINIUSA will <strong>ever</strong> bring the MINI D to the states. If they do, it will be too late and we’ll all be driving hydrogen powered hovercars or something like that.</p>
<p>That means that if a JCW D is produced, it will be Europe only.</p>
<p>I do think there is room for diesel in performance cars and a JCW D would be a blast to drive. Lest we forget, Audi won LeMans with a diesel and are building the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-audi-unleashes-its-diesel-monster-the-r8-v12-tdi/" rel="nofollow">R8 with a V12 TDI engine</a>.</p>
<p>High performance with good fuel economy sounds pretty good to me.</p>
<p>Can’t see this happening and agree that Auto Express is far from being a reliable source. What MINI does need is a more powerful diesel option though (today 110bhp ain’t alot) and i would love to see a fully warranteed 130/135bhp diesel upgrade ala original jcw petrol engine kit,
A bit off topic I know but with Regard to engines can also see low pressure petrol turbo with similar 130ish bhp replacing naturally aspirated engine in the Cooper.</p>
<p>Well, a JCW D R60 could be the much anticipated $50K MINI.</p>
<p>I actually could see this as a potential development but very sure if it were there isn’t even a sliver of chance it will ever hit the US market. I know several European tuners have been working on performance items for the Mini D so no great surprise if Mini looks at this.</p>
<p>I think if Mini was to do this they are actually starting to treat the JCW sub-brand more like stickers that they just plug onto every vehicle. After the semi-flop of the first factory car I would rather see Mini leave JCW as the kit and add-on performance items and create a true sub-brand in the image of the M Division that specializes in producing true performance Mini’s.</p>
<p>$50k for a whopping 160hp? Just to be “green”? Is anyone out there starting to feel manipulated yet by the various hoaxes out there designed to seperate you from your money (and freedom)?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t hold your breath for this.</p>
<p>Eyebrows raised.</p>
<p>If anything I’d be interested to see how it works its way up the revs. But agin, until the U.S. gets the One or D I won’t hold my breath.</p>
<p>really? no one wants the performance of the S and the fuel efficiency of the cooper? market (and price) it as a diesel S and i’d jump on it for sure.</p>