Saw this article in a monthly trade newsletter:

BMW expects a new diesel version to boost sales of the MINI, but that likely will strain capacity at its Oxford, England, plant. DMW began selling the MINI diesel June 14, in Europe. Diesel MINIs will not be sold in the US or Asia, but BMW expects the new engine version to account for up to 10% of worldwide MINI sales. Forecasts vary between 10,000 to 20,000 sales in a full year. After the UK and US the No. 3 and No. 4 markets for the MIN are Germany and Italy. The production site can handle a maximum of 180,000 MINIs annually. A third shift was introduced last year. Next summer, the plant likely will start building the MINI Cabriolet. But production by Pininfarnia in Italy is being considered. BMW has turned to Toyota to supply the first diesel engine for the MINI. BMW chose Toyota's engine for packaging and quality reasons.

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Yep, this could be a problem. Particularly since I think that the diesel will be a big seller. Diesel does very well in Europe, and a diesel MINI would probably go like hotcakes. It's been discussed before, but I think it'd do reasonably well over here too if they'd be willing to give it a try.

 

It's been discussed before, but I think it'd do reasonably well over here too if they'd be willing to give it a try.

agree..just look at the VW TDI....looking at the planned Toyota Diesel, suprisingly has more low end torque than the MCS.....guys chip the TDI and it becomes a screamer...

 

>>agree..just look at the VW TDI....looking at the planned Toyota Diesel, suprisingly has more low end torque than the MCS.....guys chip the TDI and it becomes a screamer...

Hummmmmm. Very interesting.

 

Where's the hybrid MINI? The Prius is so ugly.

 

I'd definitely consider buying a MINI One-D here in the US, but unfortunately none of the European high performance diesels will make it over here before 2007 at the earliest, since the US fuel quality (diesel, but other grades as well) is just way too low (too much sulfur amongst other things). By 2007 the diesel has to be cleaned up in the US. It's still a surprise to me that the fuel is so bad here, because the high sulfur content creates so much pollution, and obviously low-sulfur fuel can be easily made, the same companies sell it in Europe, so why can't they here?
I would consider a MINI One-D, or I'd love to get a BMW 330 D, the only BMW I would consider buying. It has a turbo charged direct injection diesel, does 0-60 in about 7.4 seconds (same as MCS), and gets about 40 mpg!!! What a car!