I just called Mini and asked if there was any time frame with the cooper d coming to the US and he said YES!!!! With in 3 years . But he could not tell me exactally when. I hope sooner than that.

 

Well thats some news there! I know there was huge debate for sometime on this subject with no indication that they would bring it over. I know if/when they do that we would definitely be in on that release!

 

Im waiting for the Cooper S AWD JCW!!!

 

Interesting news...we'll see what transpires!!

 

Ohhh that means there's a chance for a Bio-Diesel powered MINI with a little modification :D

 

I've ridden in an AWD CooperS It's like a cat on velcro.

It is a Getrag concept that was very well executed....I think there were some articles floating around about it with photos.

 

Beautiful, does anyone know of any aftermarket for the MINI diesel engine, and anywhere we can find details on the engine?

 

top gear did a show comparing the mini D with the regular cooper (Euro versions) its probably on youtube or something

 

SWEET.

 

I believe the lesson learned from that was "don't ride in the back of a MINI whilst blindfolded."

 

It would be nice, but I'm doubting it. There has been no mention of anything like that on motoringfile.com or anywhere else on the internet that I can find. Mini's diesel will have a tough time with US emissions standards unless they pair with Mercedes for clean diesel technology.

When 2007 Mini orders were starting to be taken last year, I found the MAs knew less about it than I did reading the internet. They are usually the last to know.

 

With the new CAFE thats a no brainer. They can get away with adding a bunch of SUVs with the MINI D and still be safe.

 

Wow. All this based on an MA. And only up to 3 years to wait. Go ahead and order what you want. No offense, but I wouldnt wait around on this rumor. If it does come, I'll trade in for it. A Clubby D would be perfect!

 

Hooray for the Cooper D! For those of you who haven't checked it out, here's the UK's website: http://www.mini.com/com/en/mini_cooper_d/index.jsp

*Click on Driving, and then Engine/ Performance for a cool interactive/comparitve chart on power and torque. Pretty neat.

We should all petition to get this thing here! Here's a pettion I came across:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/minid/

There was a show called "Some Assembly Required" that recently aired (episode 6 I believe) that did a really cool segment on BMW's new diesel motors. If you caught it then you know where I'm coming from. BMW is really taking the reigns with this diesel re-engineering. It's pretty unbelievable how they can make a diesel SO effiecient all while being very light weight, and incredibly torquey. Not to mention the horsepower that rivals most nice V8 gasoline motors that comes out of these things. Makes me want a Cooper D even more now. Damn the U.S. and there ingnorance.

 

LOL.That would be "Fifth Gear"! Top Gear's rivals. The Fifth Gear guys did a blind folded test riding in a MINI One and a MINI One Diesel. Tom (I think that is his name?) threw up everywhere! It was halarious... They concluded that it was hard to tell which MINI was which. But the One and the Diesel are SLOW... naught to 100kph in like 10 seconds... It's hard to go back to a One or Cooper once you have an S!

 

I believe the bluetec systems require so much exhaust scrubbing and components that fitting such a system on a small car like the MINI will be a challenge.

The U.S. will allow huge domestic diesel pickups, yet is so stringent on a diesel car? Doesn't make alot of sense to me. 50 mpg is pretty impressive and should be allowed to import. Instead we give tax breaks on "hybrids" and keep diesel prices $.50 higher than regular gasoline.

 

the Mini is very small, and as far as I know, Honda is the only one working on a non-urea (bluetec) deisel that can run without the heavy tank. If BMW sources small deisel engines from Honda, who knows.

The reason that deisels aren't as prevelent here is two fold: one has to do with particulate standards we have here, whereas Europe stresses CO2 per km, and in Europe deisel fuel isn't taxed nearly as heavily is gasoline is. So it's a much cheaper fuel, even without the energy efficiency benefits that deisel can provide.

The truck thing has to do with the auto and business lobbies keeping pickups classed differently than cars.

You want more deisel here, lobby for higher gas taxes that don't apply to deisel as well.

Matt

 

good points... I do not envy EU's gasoline taxes!!!

 

That might be the case in mainland Europe, but its not the case in the UK.

Diesel is priced currently at about £1.10 or $2.16 per litre (inc all tax), while petrol (gasoline) is priced at about £1.02 or $2.01 (inc all tax). Diesel cars are also more expensive to buy in the first place here. The tax (duty) is currently as follows on our fuel:

• 53.65 pence per litre for conventional unleaded petrol ($1.04) - rough figure
• 56.94 pence per litre for conventional diesel ($1.10) - rough figure

We also pay further tax in the form of VAT (17.5%) on both the cost of the fuel itself and the duty shown above, meaning that about 70% of the final fuel prices go to the government.

Diesels only really make sense if you are doing high miles, and thus benefit from the improved MPG, otherwise the high costs negate any gain.

 

Just as an illustration, to fill my car from empty would cost the equivalent of $111.12 :(

 

In continental Europe, it's getting close to 50%. But a lot of that has to do with the tax structure for fuels....

Matt

 

The one thing I don't miss about the UK...

Well, that and chavs...

 

In 2005, it was 45%.

Unfortunately, I cant find a figure thats more up to date. I would have thought that by now it would be around the 50% mark, as you say.

I drive a diesel myself, and being young it suits me for numerous reasons.

• Insurance is cheaper than the petrol model.

• The diesel MINI holds its value better than any other variant

• I enjoy a combined figure or roughly 45mpg (and even 50-55 mpg on extended motorway trips).

Having said that though, and if I was not a young driver, it would probably be just as cheap for me to run a petrol MINI. The major reason is because I don't do enough miles a year to see the benefit from the added costs running a diesel brings. This is because while I'm at Uni, my car is doing approximately 8000 miles a year, as I don't have it with me.

Given that the car tax is roughly the same (£115 pa for the diesel vs £140 pa for the petrol) a £25 difference. The only other savings come from the increased MPG and better re-sale value (less deprecation per mile)

Still, I love my car! But its a Cooper S for me next.

 

Yes, don't get my started on Chavs! Scum of the earth.

 

I was just wondering. What would be the advantage of owning a diesel in a small car in the US. a truck that pulls and hauls I can see. but a car? what would be the advantage?