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Mini considering U.S.-market diesel by 2011

 
6 7,498 views Feb 10, 2009
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2010 mini e electric vehicle ev la auto show 010

The already-miserly Mini would become even more parsimonius with petroleum

The already-miserly Mini would become even more parsimonius with petroleum

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Diesel engines are still failing to gain much traction in the U.S., in part because of a national memory of the diesels of three decades ago, and in part because diesel fuel and engines are still too expensive to make good business sense. But Mini is thinking a small, sporty and efficient diesel may be just the thing to make Americans switch.

Slipping a torquey and efficient diesel into the small and sporty platform of the Mini could be just want U.S. drivers are looking for, at least in larger cities: something nimble, easy to park, yet highly efficient and not terribly expensive. The company doesn't think it will make sense financially until 2010 or 2011, however, reports USA Today, and it's still not a sure thing.

If the diesel does come to the U.S. in a few years' time it will be an option across the brand range, not just a single choice. It's unlikely we'll see a Mini Cooper Diesel John Cooper Works, however.

Mini does make diesel variants of its cars in other countries, so the technological barriers lie not in the construction of the vehicles, but in the certification of the emissions. Meeting tough U.S. standards, especially in California where CARB's diesel emissions rules are stringent, could prove difficult.

The need to meet California's higher standard would be multiplied if the currently-under-review EPA waiver issue resolves in the states' favor. CARB's standards could then be imposed by essentially every state in the U.S.

U.S. testing by automotive parts company Bosch indicates the diesel Mini exceeds 60mpg in mixed driving, outstripping the current gasoline-powered car's 28mpg city/37mpg highway and even going beyond the benchmark Toyota Prius, rated at about 50mpg combined.

Mini's efforts to push new fronts in technology have been highlighted recently with its wildly popular small-scale electric vehicle testing.
2010 Mini E electric vehicle
2010 Mini One and One Clubman

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 mini e electric vehicle ev la auto show 010

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 mini one 010




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Comments (6)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 2/10/2009 1:43pm PST

    Heard it might get up to 60 mpg (rough estimate from Bosch), would like to see it here.
     
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  2. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 2/10/2009 5:10pm PST

    "[The diesel Mini] will be an option across the brand range"

    There's only one diesel-powered Mini in Europe, the Mini One D. Or will BMW stick a 2.0L unit under the small hood?
     
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  3. By arkbiz44 Posted: 12/9/2009 4:38pm PST

    The justification of the extra expense of a diesel engine can be argued. But you err in characterizing the fuel itself as too expensive. Last I checked, it was about 8% more at the pump and, on average, delivered about 30% better mpg. So the fuel, itself, is a bargain.
     
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  4. By ebunn Posted: 1/12/2010 11:55am PST

    I own a Jetta TDI, 55-65 MPG is the norm. Drive 650 - 750 miles per tank, $30 fill ups. :) I know I want more Diesel options in the US (They don't waist the power like Gasoline Engines).
     
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  5. By Kili Posted: 1/25/2010 2:57pm PST

    I actually e-mailed MINI in 2006 when I was buying a new car and asked if they had any plans to bring diesel to the US any time soon... got a "no" in response... so I bought a diesel beetle. I'm happy with it, but if they bring a diesel MINI into the US, that may just be the car I upgrade to once I'm out of warranty in another year or so.
     
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  6. By George Posted: 3/31/2010 3:49pm PDT

    "Diesel engines are still failing to gain much traction in the U.S., in part because of a national memory of the diesels of three decades ago"
    Really? I bet that people under 45 don’t remember and people all ages with EU travel experience have positive memories of diesel currently available by all US manufacturers in EU. I hope that Italians will decimate the diesel negative propaganda in US. It is tough to get any traction by diesel if oil business and car manufacturers don’t support it. Go Fiat, go Mini.
     
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