MINI Cooper D could arrive in America sooner than we thought
Click for a high res gallery of the MINI D
Last summer we had a chance to drive a European spec MINI Cooper D (that's D as in diesel) and loved its combination of fantastic handling, torque and 47 real world mpg. Shortly after that we had the chance to speak with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell and asked about the possibility of the diesel MINI coming to America. At the time McDowell told us that there were two roadblocks to that happening. They needed a 50 state legal version of the diesel engine and more production capacity. This week in Los Angeles we had the chance to talk with McDowell again and the subject of the MINI D arose once more.
Basically, things have changed. In July, the MINI factory in Oxford England was running full tilt to keep up with demand. Since then, the collapse of the financial markets has meant a drop in sales, including MINI sales, across the board and around the world. That means more supply is now available than demand and we could get more MINIs in America if needed. The other issue is the technical one about US certification. That, too, is being addressed. According to McDowell, BMW is working on a Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant version of the MINI D engine. Instead of urea injection for NOx reduction, this would use a lean NOx trap like the Jetta TDI. While McDowell wouldn't commit to a time-frame, it looks like we may get the MINI D sooner rather than later.
Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 MINI Cooper D
[Source: MINI]
Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thedirtmaster 4:29PM (11/22/2008)
Please, please bring this to the states!
Reply
fred 4:57PM (11/22/2008)
Its really really a shame
this site has not precised the origin of this engine telling that it was a clean bosch technology.
The truth is that this engine is from psa (peugeot citroen)
produced for the peugeot 207 HDI really efficient and powerfull(considering his size)
Id really liked to know why autobloggreen have forgotten this important point . Bosch is only one of the suppliers of the turbos for these engines.
If readers want to know more just surf on european car sites its official (not only minis use the french diesels take a look at the last jaguar its a V6 HDI very noble engine
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 5:28PM (11/22/2008)
PSA makes the gas engine too I believe.
Sam Abuelsamid 5:38PM (11/22/2008)
Actually the gas and diesel engines are made under a joint venture between PSA and BMW and are used in vehicles from both brands. As for Bosch I only identified them as the fuel system supplier not the engine builder.
H 7:54PM (11/22/2008)
I got to drive one of these a couple months ago.
Not bad, but I've never driven the gas version so I've no real basis for comparison.
Reply
Dale 10:10PM (11/22/2008)
I am ready and waiting for this car. Please deliver it soon. I want one of my own. Please build a triple white one while you're at it.
Reply
Mechanicaldan 2:02PM (11/23/2008)
If this happens, does this open the door for the BMW 1-series to get the European diesel also? I've got a 120d 5 door hatch while I'm working in Scotland, and would love the same car back in the US when I return!
Reply
dyelooper 9:11PM (11/26/2008)
Gas Mileage?
Reply
Sam Abuelsamid 9:15PM (11/26/2008)
We got 47 mpg when we tried one in July. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/22/in-the-autobloggreen-garage-2008-mini-cooper-d-w-video/