I think the question will be asked sooner or later... do you think it's possible?? I'm just hearing so much about the complete badass tunability we will have with the R56, I was wondering do y'all think it's possible?? I understand alot of stuff will have to be changed along with it, the ecu, transmission, etc. But if your looking at 220whp with just a few very minor mods... It may be worth it.

Just bouncin' ideas around...

Mikey

 

I think the short answer is no, based on what was reported on whiteroofradio. The new engine is mounted backwards in the engine bay and the engine bay itself is of a different configuration due to the re-designed (pedestrain-safety) front end.

 

It would be much cheaper to just bolt on a M62 SC and a couple of mods.

-Cody

 

Or twincharge

 

Given challenges mentioned above, plus the depreciated value of mini +cost of new motor & installation, I'd recommend buying a new mini versus trying to tackle the aformentioned endeavor.

 

I would be easier to sell your MINI and get a R56 MCS.

That turbo engine will be a lot easier to modify.

 

Ahhh but will it sound as good or just blend in with the rest of the imports as yet another turbo?

 

Everytime I watch a video of the R56, when it gets to the acceleration parts I keep waiting for the whine, but it'll never come

 

How about transplant an R53 engine to an R56?

 

What do you mean "sound as good"? The stock MCS exhaust isn't anything special... And its not just any other turbo... its a twin-scroll with a highly advanced direct injection. I would hardly call it "just another turbo"...

Turbo is superior. I mean just look at the Porsche 997 Twin-Turbo... pretty small engine pushing 500hp and going from 0-60 in just 3.4 seconds... Now tell me, what cars come close to that other than the Enzo Ferrari (God IMO) and the Bugatti Veyron (which is quad turbocharged anyways)....

 

For that just leave it in the R53 body... looks better anyways.. lol

 

Some of the MINI community loves the sound of Naturally Aspirated (sounds best IMO) and Superchardged engines (I love the battle cry as R53s accelerate). That Whine will soon be gone, there is more to sound than exhaust. And the new MINI has definate potential to sound like a Civic. And I highly doubt the R56 will have the preformance of a 997 or Bugatti, but thats just a hunch. And whats the major flaw with the EVOs... Turbo lag. Turbo is definately easier but there is more to life than HP. But hey MINI, numerous hot rodders and Muscle car drag racers, Ariel (only beat the Enzo around the Top Gear track) and Lotus could all be completely wrong.

I'm just pointing out that S/C and N/A engines have character that many of us like; that turbos don't have. Each to his own, just won't find me looking into an R56 anytime soon.

 

Its has been done, only a matter of time when first 2.0 mopar swap pics show.

 

Agreed

 

+1

 

Hmmm - have you experienced this lag first hand?

 

I have to agree with Skiploder - the turbo lag of the Mitsu Evo is typical of early generation turbocharged applications. The latest generation of turbocharger technology uses variable vane technology to keep the turbocharger running fast all the time. The variable vane technology allows the turbo to get on the boost pretty much on-demand (as well as to modulate the boost - no more famine to feast situations). I highly doubt that BMW would have gone with turbocharging if there would have been bost lag problems that could not be resolved with technology....

 

The latter year Evos utilize twin scrolls and there is really no lag. If you can get a local dealer to let you drive a current Evo IX, I would suggest you do and report back here on this horrible lag.

Since the R56 will also use a twin scroll turbo, I would assume the same characteristics.

In reality, the current supercharged engine is gutless down low - even modded to the gills. You should have no reason to doubt that the new line of R56 engines will be anything but quick and responsive.

 

Granted, the R56 Engine will not have the performance of either the 997TT or the Bugatti. I was simply pointing out how turbos are used on some high-end cars because it has better thermal efficiency than a supercharger. However, the R56 engine will have the same tunability characteristics as that of the 996TT, 997TT, Audi A4 2.0T, etc. The direct injection is a HUGE plus in these engines, well not the 996TT but there are some 600+WHP monsters.

As far as turbo lag goes, the only times that the EVOs have this problem is when they put he HUGE turbos and shoot for 600AWHP. The R56 will use a twin-scroll turbo which virtually eliminates turbo lag (in this specific engine/turbo setup).

Someone mentioned the VVT (variable vane technology), currently the 997TT is the only car use this technology if I'm not mistaken. However I think other cars will be using this technology as well, not sure if its Honda or Toyota or one of those.

On a side note, I do agree there is more to sound than just exhaust, in the R53 its the supercharger whine, which I love and will miss when I step up in cars. The new engine is sure to be promising and will be MUCH easier to tune than the current engine. A chip alone will probably put you at 200HP. Add in an intake and turbo back exhaust with a 3" downpipe and you would be getting possible 220-230HP. How else could you do that on the current engine without EXTREME mods. Most will say I'm crazy but just wait and see, that's all I'll say.

^^ That is the same reason why the upcoming 335Ci will take away sales from the M3 and possibly be competition for the new M3 with just simple bolt-ons.

 

 

Variable vane technology is hardly new, it first appeared on the 1989 Shelby CSX version of the Dodge Shadow that was equipped with the Garrett Variable Nozzle Turbine (VNT-25). No, it's not a cure-all and won't fix a poorly sized turbo. Audi\VW fixed the lag problem by fitting tiny little turbos that strangle the exhaust flow at higher RPMs. Inelegant perhaps, but cheap and it works.

 

Or, you can take the approach that BMW is doing with the 335i and use two turbos - one small for low-end response and the other larger for top-end breathing.... A much more elegant solution, it would seem. But then the BMW is the Ultimate Driving Machine....

 

Um, no... the 335i uses two small turbos in parallel. What you are describing is a sequential turbo system as used in the 1993-2002 Toyota Supra Turbo (JZA8X), the 1992-2002 Mazda RX-7 Turbo (FD3S), and the 1986-1988 Porsche 959.

Two small parallel turbos are ideal for the 335i's inline six because of the way the exhaust pulses can be evenly grouped; usually V-6 twin turbos have one "odd" exhaust pulse on each bank and are only arranged that way for packaging reasons.

In contrast, the "twincharge" concept is actually a compound setup.

Remember this is for a low cost 1.6L so you aren't going to see it come with any fancy VNT or multiple turbos. It will use the "strangle" method.

 

If they can get an H22 into a CRX, they can get the PSA motor in the R53.

 

Not to mention the M3'd straight six MINI in the europeon Belcar race series, or the Nissan powered Ford in F&F3 (which almost didn't happen).

Money can do whatever your heart desires. But it doesn't make it any more simple though.