I've been reading the news releases about the MINI One D which goes on sale in the UK this June and I find myself desperately wanting one. Sure, it only has 75hp, but it's also got a good bit more torque than the standard Cooper, a six speed transmission, and 58mpg!

I haven't read that there were ever actually diesel powered classic MINIs, but the smell of diesel (probably minimal in something this modern) is something I still associate with my time in Europe. And it just seems so charmingly prissy and cool.

But here I am marooned on the opposite side of the work in California. I don't suppose any of you insider types know if the One D (or a Cooper D perhaps?) will be making it over here to the states in the next year or two?

I wonder how hard it would be to import one... Do they sell the MINI Ones in Canada, or is that Euro only thing?

 

Unfortunately, I think the likelihood of seeing the MINI One offered in the U.S., ever, is very low. Even lower for the diesel version. There's just not enough of a market here for fuel efficiency of that sort. MAYBE if the car sold for $14k they'd sell a few, but any higher and the cost equation just doesn't seem to work with US gas prices. Very few people here can conceive of how a sub-100hp car can be even remotely fun, which is unfortunate. If I had known how inflated the EPA fuel economy ratings were for the Cooper, and if the One were available here, I definitely would have at least test driven it. However, I think that very few people share my willingness to emphasize fuel economy over fun so significantly, even with the "high" gas prices we're currently experiencing.

Can you picture **** Cheney driving a MINI One?
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2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

>>Can you picture **** Cheney driving a MINI One?

Only if they install a test track in the bunker.

But, with his heart, maybe that's all the excitement he should have.

Seriously though, I think that there may be room for a diesel MINI being imported to the US. Maybe the Cooper vs. One. Modern diesels (as you say) are vastly different from, say, the VW diesel I owned in 1980. It seems feasible that if gas prices here approach $3.00/gal -- which seems entirely likely as soon as this spring -- and stay there -- which seems entirely likely given this war...Americans could turn back to diesel rather quickly. Look how fast diesel cars come to market in just about EVERY fuel crisis we've had in the past 30 years. Fortunately, the technology keeps getting better.

 

Unfortunately, the way the laws are written in the US, even the modern, fuel-efficient deisel engines don't meet our air pollution standards -- at least according to what I've heard. If you have the Real Audio player, you can hear the NPR commentary on this here:

David Ropeik on Diesel autos

There is also a lot of testing being done with diesels running vegetable oils, which have less of a particulate and oxides of nitrogen problem. Main drawback? The streets would smell like a bad day at MacDonalds. Here's another NPR story on this:

Cooking Oil Tested as Auto Fuel

Peace,

Mark of Pemburnia

 

I also think the MINI 1 market might be bigger than they think. Commuter, kids car with lots of air bags. Really cut it down to a bare bones econo machine. Loose the AC keep the safety features, cut the power. And maybe live up to that advertising theme they have Customize it!!!! {Hey MINI give us a Factory CD at a fair price}

 

See, I guess I'm your typical republican semi-environmentalist: I'd have no problem with the slight increase in soot emissions if I could cut my fuel expenses (and incidentally the greenhouse gasses produced) in half

The ideal, from my point of view, would be a Cooper D, with a slighter larger engine than the One D. The diesel New Bug isn't to weak in the oomph department, and I know people who say they've averaged 48-50mpg even at 70+ average highway speeds. (So if any of your people in BMW marketing are listening -- send em to the US and you'll sell at least one!)

In the mean time, when you're not near the MINI you love, you can love the MINI that's near. And if I ever have the money and nothing better to do, I'll import a diesel

 

Remember when diesel used to be significantly cheaper than 87 octane gasoline? Any idea why this is no longer the case? Is it just plain price gouging, pegging the diesel price to whatever regular gas prices are?

 

Don't know. And it seems to vary widely. Here in California it's currently about $0.15/gal cheaper than 87 octane. And it seems like at some times when I was driving through the midwest, it's been as much as $0.30/gal cheaper. On the other hand, there are some chains which seem to routinely markup diesel to $0.20 over 87. Go figure...

 

My daughter had to get a Turbo Diesel Jetta. Boy does it go! Great economy, lots of power, and 42 mpg or better. Very easy to accelerate quickly since torque is everywhere. Engine is supposed to last forever. 19.5 compression ratio I think so great efficiency. Ashame MINI couldn 't shoehorn such an engine into the MINI.