MINI’s US Diesel Plans to Start with the R60
Over the past year and a half we’ve had a handful of sources either allude or outright tell us that the first diesel MINI to hit American soil will be the R60 MINI Crossover. Since that first scoop (way back in 2008) we’ve steadfastly claimed that the R60 would include a US bound 2.0L BMW derived turbo diesel powerplant identical to the one found in the current 1 and 3 series in Europe and the UK.
So why are we reminding you of this now? With the Crossover to be released next week it’s important to remember that we’ll not only see the full range of petrol powerplants. We believe this will eventually range from the 1.6L found in the One to the turbo MCS engine. But we’ll also eventually see at least two diesel engines ranging that could both be BMW powerplants. The more powerful of these two will (if sources are correct) will be the 2.0L 204hp diesel engine in the 123d that produces an astonishing 295 ft lbs of torque.
Related:
+ Diesel Powered MINI Coming to the US Market / MotoringFile
+ First MINI Diesel prototype built with BMW 2.0L Diesel / MotoringFile
<p>Exciting news! Now, give us seating for 5 in the U.S. market!!</p>
<p>Great that they are going to give the US a bite at the diesel finally, still to bad it wasn’t in a normal Mini sized foot print. Oh well still a good thing.</p>
<p>Cool! It will be the R60 performance king!</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>A very interesting – and worthwhile – development in MINIdom.</p>
<p>BTW, I think you were aiming for “allude” (to suggest), rather than “elude” (to escape).</p>
<p>Will stop-start be hitting the USA soon too?</p>
<p>BMW’s been introducing its Efficient Dynamics w/ad campaigns, so hopefully MINImalism will be coming to the USA too.</p>
<p>Diesel fours for the R60 mean the engine would also be offered in other vehicles- so maybe next gen Cooper, 1er and 3er?….</p>
<p>The day they stick the 123d in a hatchback MINI is the day my chequebook opens again.</p>
<p>…and price it right. The VW TDI Sportswagon base is $23,800.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-266664" rel="nofollow">MINITorque.com</a>:</p>
<p>I second that motion</p>
<p>Once an engine is through US emissions certification, it just makes sense to use it in every platform you can…. If this does happen, you can bet that it will show up elsewhere.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>This is expected, yet really exciting news! This means a lot for the MINI brand and I hope they realize the potential for growth that will no doubt occur simply by adding a diesel variant to the engine lineup. I can’t wait to drive one!</p>
<blockquote>Once an engine is through US emissions certification, it just makes sense to use it in every platform you can…. If this does happen, you can bet that it will show up elsewhere.
</blockquote>
<p>Once an engine is through US emissions certification, it just makes sense to use it in every platform you can…. If this does happen, you can bet that it will show up elsewhere.</p>
<p>In this case I was say that it doesn’t mean it will show up in the R56. In fact I would encourage you to not get your hopes up. We reported a few months back that The Cooper D was dead for the US market after several years of research into it’s viability. BMW AG just doesn’t see it selling enough to justify the engineering. Even if they use the 2.0L (how sweet would that be?) they still have to engineer the urea system and all that entails.</p>
<p>To give you some perspective, the 3.0L twin turbo inline six used on the 335d and X5 35d have gone through some much re-engineering (to be better suited to the NA market’s expectations) that they are basically different engines than what is sold in Europe.</p>
<p>Well, in lots of platforms that have any life left to them. If they’re gonna make it work in the R60 only, that would really cost them dearly, as it’s already a smaller slice of the MINI market. They better use it in some other chassis, or prices will clime or profits drop, neither one is good for MINI…</p>
<p>I’m still hoping for the 1 series 5 door hatch…</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>As Gabe has hinted at this will be a BMW engine, also to be used in BMW vehicles sold in the US. The current diesels being offered in the US are the halos, the performance models with even greater efficiency to follow.</p>
<p>Efficiency relative to the market, not the globe. MINIs and BMWs in the US have always been about performance and a lifestyle, this will not change and the engines will need to fit that market and not the market fit the vehicles.</p>
<p>The X1, 1 series and 3 series and another possible variant will see a smaller diesel along with the R60. More or less the X1 and R60 will usher in this engine.</p>
<p>Gabe mentioned above that the current Advanced Diesels have numerous unique engineering variations to the sister EU models outside of the urea injection, just one of the changes is the location of the wrist pins where the piston and connecting rod are joined, closer to the cylinder wall to change the angle and reduce noise. Bfile will be featuring a post on these changes so I will not go into too much here.</p>
<p>Just note that it is costing BMW a great deal to bring the current diesel here… and that was to break ground and change misconceptions. The public is now becoming more open to the idea of diesel and it is a great time for everyone interested!</p>
<p>“To give you some perspective, the 3.0L twin turbo inline six used on the 335d and X5 35d have gone through some much re-engineering (to be better suited to the NA market’s expectations) that they are basically different engines than what is sold in Europe.”</p>
<p>but still, if you’re going to invest the money to make them ‘us compliant’ wouldn’t you then want to spread that technology across as many models as possible? i think the quoted argument makes sense, but if the engine has already been modified for the us, why not put it in as many us offerings as possible?</p>
<p>So is the R60 debuting “later this week” or “next week”? :)</p>
<p>There is another thing driving stuff like this beyond the inexerable increase in the cost of energy. Used to be that car makers could just cut a check if thier fleet didn’t make CAFE. EPA is signalling that this will change, and that compliance will be manditory. It’s all nice and fine to say that the company will still be about performance and luxury, but marques like BMW and Mercedes will have to do some serious downsizing in weight and displacement if the EPA really does go through with it.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Still looking forward to seeing how the sales go between the 4 seat R60 and the 5 seat X1. Personally think the small families will go with the tad more space in the X1 than the 4 seats in the R60. It will be interesting to watch though.</p>
<p>woohoo!! there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Pencil me in for this one I am saving money for this one Vw hold your horses till I see the R60</p>
<p>Praise God.</p>
<p>VW dealers in the US are selling every TDI they can get their hands on, so the market is definitely there.</p>
<p>i want a cooper d with the 2.0L if it gets here my 09 jcw will be a garage queen with lots of wax on it and the cooper d will be the road warrior for my 300+ mile round trip comutes .</p>