I've done a little searching on the board and online, but can't find anything but conjecture on the possibility of the Countryman Diesel (DS) being offered in the States in the future. Does anyone have any reasonably solid info?

I suppose we could face east toward England and prepare burnt offerings and incantations...

 

I guess you better face east and get your offerings ready because a diesel is not coming to the US. My guess is because of emissions. But seriously I think a diesel might appear in 2-3 years since BMW now has a diesel in its US line up. Then again is a diesel Mini really going to give you that much savings per mile compared to what you get now with a regular petrol? Don't know.

 

Having purchased a new Diesel Rabbit many moons ago, I think it would be cool if they did. If not merely for the extra range and less maintenance requried for a diesel. Which is most just having to change the fuel filters regularly. But.......

By the time US Passenger car diesel engine import tax is levied, additional cost of the engine on top of MSRP (another $1,500+) and because diesel fuel is about $2.00 more a gallon than gasoline, and the fact they don't yeild much more in MPG.....Your burnt offerings would serve only to pollute the air, as there isn't much savings left over for the typical three/four year loan/lease period to warrant it.

 

$$$ both to the consumer and the manufacturers is the issue...
Have heard that to certify the oil burner for the us it is pretty cost prohibitive...then to as consumers to pay $1500-2500 for a slower car with less hp (abit better mpg, longer life, and tons of tq) is too steep a hill for marketing folks to climb....
Even VW, which sells about 50% oil burners(in europe) went for a year or two without in the us....the new motors need a selective catalyst (SCR) with def (urea+water mix) to meet clean air rules....big $$$.

 

Locally to North Texas Diesel fuel runs about the same as Premium gas, within .10. I loved my Diesel VW and once the warranty was out I ran B100 during the summer for zero emissions.

With that said, MINIUSA has all but said Diesel for the US is not even on their radar.

Michael

 

According to my MA in San Antonio, TX the diesel version is passing emissions everywhere but California which is holding it back from sales in the US.

He also said they were ranging 45-50mpg. Not sure how true any of this is, just what I was told.

 

I would buy a 2.0 L turbo diesel All4 Countryman in a heartbeat. I've owned a VW Jetta turbodiesel, and I loved it. The TDI had a ton of low end torque, which meant that they were a blast off the line (0-30MPH). 30-60MPH was OK, and 60MPH+ was a liesurly cruise. The great part was getting 45MPG no matter how I drove. I would expect the 2.0LTD in a 2WD Countryman should easily get over 40MPG. Add a couple MPG loss for the AWD, and I'd still be looking at 38MPG+ for an AWD car, that is still fun to drive. I'd go for that any day. I like driving the 1.6L Turbo, but it averages 28MPG (which is still good, but not great), and is a bit short in the low end pulling power.

Mark

 

I would also love a diesel. My wife has an diesel X5 and we love it. Its fast and gets 25-30 mpg.

 

http://www.mini.co.uk/model-range/co...ooper-sd-all4/

the specs look pretty good! just make em illegal in california

 

We will see a hybrid before a diesel... All you need to know is here:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/01/...ed-effeciency/

and

http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/01/...the-us-market/

 

I'd be all over a FWD Countryman at the 51.2 MPG I just read about. That engine is getting 57 MPG in Euro trim. Emissions certifications are becoming more uniform. California hasn't gotten new diesel VWs in ages and ages, so that's not a factor for BMW/MINI. Sales is.

Diesel engine import tax? Never heard of that. Can you direct me to somewhere I can read up on that? The cost of the diesel model vs the gas model(s) is a corporate choice. Practically speaking, if there's a higher cost to build, it has to be just economies of scale. Diesels outnumber gas engines in Europe, which is where these engines are sourced, so they could bring it into the US at a relatively modest upcharge.

The only reason I'm not still driving the Passat TDI I had was the fact that the diesel-gas premium got close to 50% back in 2008, opening the door to the MINI I'd been eyeballing in the first place.