Browsing Motoring file and looking at the press release for the clubman I noticed this paragraph

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The gearshift point indicator is another way the MINI Clubman can help the driver achieve efficient motoring: The feature is standard on manually equipped MINI Clubman models and is designed to compute the most efficient style of motoring. The electronic control unit continually analyzes engine speed, driving conditions and the position of the gas pedal, and calculates the most efficient style of motoring relative to the gear selected. The system then alerts the driver when a gearshift is recommended to maintain optimum efficiency. An arrow symbol along with the number of the ideal gear appears in the cockpit display beneath the tachometer.


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Is this a feature that was removed prior to release or a Euro thing only like the auto off feature?

 

This feature is not offered on U.S. models.

 

thats what I figured but with so many bells and whistles I just didn't know if I was missing something

 

European MINIs get BMW's "Efficiency Dynamics" which include the shift indicator which is the reference you found as well as not having an alternator but instead charging the battery upon deceleration (almost like a hybrid) an engine-start-stop when the car comes to a complete stop at a light. I'd love to see all the technology brought to the US someday!

 

My 22 year old Porsche has that. They call it a CASIS light. Computer Assisted Shift Indication System. Under light throttle it tells you when to shift for best fuel economy. Put your foot down and it tells you when to shift for best performance. Sounds similar to the Euro Mini feature.

 

My '85 Jetta diesel had one as well. It was funny to get it to activate in reverse.

 

My 1994 Jeep had one. Irritating.

 

I drove a Euro model with the shift point light thing for a day before I even noticed it. It's down in the info display on the tach. It's kinda cool to watch, actually, but it's not that smart. It pretty much just wants you to keep it in a certain rpm range. I was driving a diesel, so I don't know what it'd be on a gas engine, but it just wanted me to cruise between about 1200 and 2000 rpm. If you got up over 3000 it told you to skip shift.

 

Fuel efficiency? Blasphemy! This is the US! Mantra: BURN BABY BURN~(oil that is) :P

 

My father's 1985 Renault Encore had one.

 

I wanna know why we don't get those kinda things on our cars. Also why there is no temperature gauge to let you know when the engine is warmed up in 12degree F temps outside. I feel like I'm hurting the Little Bean driving to soon in the very cold temps.

 

I also miss gauges. Temp as a minimum.

In very cold it is best to just start it and go. Just go slowly for a bit. Remember that when idling not much else on the car is getting warm.

charlie

 

Scangauge is probably the easiest and cheapest way to get a temp gauge in a 2nd gen Mini.