News_Stig Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Ooooh! Potent new weapon a hot diesel Mini! Mini will launch a new range of more powerful diesels next year, kicking off with a Mini hatch equipped with the engine from a BMW 120d. Mini’s engineers have successfully managed to fit the BMW four-cylinder engine, designed for a longitudinal application, into the Mini’s engine bay in a transverse installation. The work involved in fitting the BMW engine to the Mini was described by our source as "tricky". In the test cars the engine is coupled to an automatic transmission, but expect production cars to have a manual gearbox. Stop-start technology is also likely. The first of the new Mini diesels will have around 150bhp, detuned from the 120d's 177bhp, but sources say it would also be possible to use the more powerful twin-turbo diesel from the 123d in the Mini. That would create a Mini diesel with over 200 BHP , and could form the basis for a John Cooper Works diesel Mini. The new Mini diesels will enter the pilot build phase this May, when pre-production cars are assembled on a test line at BMW’s HQ in Munich. They are expected to go on sale in 12 months' time, with a possible launch at next year’s Geneva motor show in March. Mini only has one diesel model, the 110bhp Cooper D, which uses an engine jointly developed with PSA. Be interesting to see how they tame the torque steer on a 200BHP FWD diesel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 You would only buy a diesel for the fuel economy and torque, what improvement in mpg would this diesel offer over the petrol cooper ? I can't see it being a big seller myself, but who knows, maybe those estate agents need lower BIK cars... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I can't see it being a big seller myself, but who knows, maybe those estate agents need lower BIK cars... ? Foxtons. You can see why people sold through them, but you wouldn't want to buy through them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Foxtons. You can see why people sold through them, but you wouldn't want to buy through them Selling a house once, the Agent said to me "Oooh, we're great to sell with, but lousy to buy from"..... fecking idiot, we're going nowhere without happy buyers and happy sellers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 You would only buy a diesel for the fuel economy and torque, what improvement in mpg would this diesel offer over the petrol cooper ?I can't see it being a big seller myself, but who knows, maybe those estate agents need lower BIK cars... ? huh? The 20d engine in my 3 series after 1600 miles without making an effort towards economy is giving me 52.3mpg. It's 18% BIK in the 3 series, so may even be better in the Mini. Think its a great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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