leave french fries out of this!!!!!!! i think they were invented in the u.s.

 

>>leave french fries out of this!!!!!!! i think they were invented in the u.s.
>> :smile:

My 2p,
Jim

 

I'm sure that their quality has improved substantially in the past 20 years, but BMW will have a very hard sell at first convincing Americans about the quality of the new engine. It's not without reason that there are no French or (reasonably priced) Italian cars in the U.S. The reliability of the Japanese makes had them packing their suitcases long ago.

Anyway, I read all the way through the thread and was unable to find out what I really wanted to know. Anyone heard what the displacement of the BMW/Peugot engine will be?

And a bonus point for all the engineers: How much larger would the exterior dimensions of a 1.8 or 2.0 liter engine be?

 

Peugeot makes some very reliable, kick *** products. Remember when current Ferrari F-1 guru Jean Todt was running the Peugeot LeMans team in the early 1990's? The Gaulic Lion won numerous times. In fact, it was Peugeot and the French who gave the world Grand Prix racing. Had it not been for the folding of the Prost F-1 team, Peugeot would be a prominent player in F-1 today.

WRC, Peugeot will win it this year.

So a Peugeot lump in a future MINI? I say, bring it on, and sign me up for the 240 HP monster.

 

The reports of a new engine don't specify if it will be a new 'joint venture' motor, like the current one, or if it will be a revision of an existing product ...

....peugeots are currently sold all over the world (except here ...), even as close as Mexico, and compete favorably in the market (and on the track) with models like the 206


... that has a 2 liter, 180 horse motor that is physically not nominally bigger than our current 1.6 ...

 

I'm not sure about the 2.0 liter,

but I HAVE heard that one of the UK MINI aftermarket companies sells a kit & will over-bore the current engine to increase it from 1.6 to 1.8!
In that case the exterior dimensions would stay the same of course.

To risk stating the obvious... while these is a direct correlation between displacement and exterior dimensions/size, I'm sure a 2.0 could be built to be only slightly larger than our 1.6's .

 

>>Like America isn't rotten...can anyone say Enron?


Enron was bad business, not bad product.

 

The French cars are so fast because they tell them that the enemy is behind them...

Ok... enough...

I'd buy a French, or even a CHINESE engine if it were reliable, it performed, etc. That isn't likely to happen though. :smile:


I've said it before, I'll say it again! Wankel engine in the Mini!

-Jim

 

>>Maybe chrisnl you should go out and take your flag and wave it proud when the troops come back home from fighting for you freedom. Oh yeah I forgot you don't like reading about politics for the love of God. So sorry. NOT!!! Relax man its just a web site. Mine and everyone else should be able to express their opinion without getting bashed by someone that dosen't agree.<<

NoBull, three words: Performance Modifications Forum.

 

>>leave french fries out of this!!!!!!! i think they were invented in the u.s.
>>

I guess this is one of those threads that is really two separate topics, so you have to speak on both. So, back to the real point.

I would definitely be open to a better, more performant engine. Who wouldn't?? (well, I'm sure based on this thread we could name some names

 

It seems that most people agree that the current engine is low on torque, until you get the revs up. The standard MC engine reminds me of our 1980 RX-7, nothing until you reach 4K, then the fun starts. BMW, Honda, Toyota etc. all have variable valve timing to flatten the torque curve. What would a double vanos head do for the current block?

 

If it's 'Frog" powered, do you have to jump start it?

Let's hope it doesn't croak too soon!

_________________

 

The good news is who does what in the joint venture:

BMW: Design the engine

Peugeot: Manage process development, engineering for production and procurement

Not unlike the MINI itself - BMW was in charge of all the stuff that mattered.

 

throw in a m3 motor now were talking no honda motors remember we want more tork what do hondas put out 90lbs

 

Well this did get off-topic but I have to point out two things:

the hypocrisy involved in French-bashing when we all drive cars made by a German manufacturer & Germany held the same position about Iraq as the French. Not to mention the absolute idiocy of boycotting French products & renaming foods
It's sad that the people who run this country have the maturity level of a 5-year-old.

It was said that our troops were in Iraq fighting for our freedom. Interesting, because last time I checked, I'm not Iraqi. If anything, I have less freedom now thanks to recent anti-terror legislation. Remember what Benjamin Franklin said about those who would exchange liberty for safety.

The funny thing is that I tend to be fairly conservative politically but there's some seriously stupid stuff going on out there. I don't tolerate stupidity from either side, and unfortunately there's plenty to go around on both sides of the table.

 

Yo....my first car was a Renault Dauphine. The engine and drivetrain
were bulletproof. The car rusted so badly that it eventually started to
accordion when the brakes were applied. At that point I figured,
what the hell, I'll try to blow the engine and could not. Many of you know how I
drive so....and the French...I don't care for them. Nothing to do with
Iraq.....they talk funny and all that crappy perfume.

 

The engine
is it a joint venture or a straight out Puegot product?
Anyone heard about the head? ...Does it have variable valve timing? Direct port injection?

If anyone had the chance to drive a few of the new Puegots as I did over last Christmas you'd think twice about slagging them. While I wouldn't buy a Puegot car the engine wouldn't be the sticking point. The 206 is a cool little car. In Europe there's lots of fun little cars. ...But there's still only one MINI.


I don't get this nobull guy...? Regardless of the reasons (which are typically dirty politics by our so called "good guys" here in the US) soldiers end up going off to fight. ...So of course you support troops. They have a job to do & its a tough one. They have to mop up the mess made by politicians

But what the hell does God have to do with it? No bull God ain't a Marnie - no matter how much you'd like it he doesn't watch us (on earth) fighting like you watch football on Sunday "Go team go". I think you've just made evident the "American attitude" that folks in other countries find intolerable.

As far as France goes I think we all love to hate em ocasionally. ...Just as they like to hate us

Lets see...
The french have more vacation days than we do. They can and do drink wine almost anytime & its ok - regardless of age. They have excellent cousine & baked goods. They have a generally healthy attitude about sexuality & nudity when compared with most other nations. ...Partial nudity at beaches in France is ordinary.

But nearer and dearer to the hearts of MINI drivers should be the speeds & roads in France. Man! Driving 90 is often yawn speed. Go through the mountains at 90-100+ mph (Kilometers over there) with other drivers and you will begin to appreciate France. If you ever got the chance to drive through the mountains: Sestrier to Brioncion to Gap you'd be in MINI heaven.

Lastly: France vs. the US.

I'm a bicycle racing fan, and I LOVE the Tour De France. But I love it even more when Lance Armstrong kicks *** over there. I don't think there's gonna be enough wine to drink the memory away if Lance wins a 5th in a row this year - the centenial of the Tour. So love em & hate em. But don't be ignorant about it.

 

Normally, I only express technical opinions, but I can't help but weigh in on the whole French-bashing thing.

First, unless they are true leaders, politicians merely reflect the general mood of the population. The majority of both the French and German population were against the war. I live in Germany, so I know of what I speak. The minority of Germans that thought it was the right thing to do were, in general, afraid to speak out because those against action in Iraq were so outspoken.

Also, there is a large Muslim population in both of those countries (radical Kurds from Turkey in Germany, immigrants in France from former colonies), a hornets nest no one wants to stir up.

In addition, France and Russia had strong commercial interests in the status quo.

What I think burns most people about France is that they went out of their way to organize world opinion against the U.S. position. Also, the way they attempted to strong-arm potential new EU countries was particularly arrogant.

Just my $.02