Hello.
I recently noticed that the RPM at 70mph with sport button on is about 2800 and easily goes up to 3000 at 73mph and way up into 3K at 80mph.
I ask this b/c when i drive other cars like acura TL or maxima se the RPM is about 2400 at 70mph and just below 3K at 80mph.

Anyone know why MCS has just a high RPM at these speeds and is this bad for gas?
Thanks.

 

What gear were you in?

 

The MINI only has a 1.6 liter engine. It probably needs the rpm to make enough hp for the drag at 70-80 mph. I just drove 334.5 miles from Los Angeles to Carmel Valley. Flow of traffic was 70-80 mph for much of the trip. However, there were some serious traffic jams that went from stop-and-crawl to 35 mph. In spite of that, I used 10.599 gal. for an mpg of 31.56. This is with an MCS.

 

The Acura and Maxima both have a V6 engine in them. Bigger engines do not need to spin as fast to maintain power.

 

In mine (sport on) at 3000 RPM: (speeds approximate)
1st=20mph
2nd=30mph
3rd=42mph
4th=55mph
5th=65mph
6th=72mph
If you got to 4000 RMP you usually get to the next gear speed for 3000 RPM. So if you're in 4th at 3000, and go to 4000 you are going about 65mph.

 

It has only to do with the gear ratio chosen and the final drive used.

The final drive dicates how fast the rpm climbs vs the forward speed. The gear ratios dicate more or less gear you are in for what speed.

engine speed X gear ratio X final drive x wheel diameter = wheel speed => vehicle speed (more or less)

 

I'm sorry.
That was in 6th gear doing 70mph had 2800rpm.
I guess i've been so driving 6 cylinder all this time and not used to seeing RPM way over in 3000 when driving at 75-80mph.
Thanks for your inputs.

 

Its all in the gearing

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...speed_in_gears

Speed = R * 60 * 3.14159 * (W * P / 100 * 2 / 25.4 + D) / 12 / 5280 / G

 

Sounds about right. In my '03, 3,000rpm in 6th is 70mph. I'd say that most of my driving is in done in the 3,000-4,000 range, unless I'm really accelerating hard.

 

My Acura Integra runs around 4K rpm at 80 mph, but gets better mpg than when running 55 mph in 5th (top) gear.

 

It should be noted that your G value is total gear, Finaldrive x Selected Gear.

 

The sport button makes no difference to RPM.

 

I think they could have gone to less RPM in 6th for a bit better mileage but that would make 6th useless for top speed runs.

 

My Altima 3.5 runs at 2.5 at 70-75mph, My Mini runs just over 3 but even at that it never sounds like its struggling. It just sounds like it wants to go faster!