MINI Diesel Finally Coming to USA?

[CirrusSR22]

I sure hope so!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/mini-dealers-virtually-sold-out-for-2008-diesel-powered-mini-confirmed-for-us.html

"In another bit of Mini news, McDowell revealed that a 50-state legal diesel-powered Mini is headed to the U.S., but failed to mention a timeframe for launch. We can only image the waiting lists for a 50+ mpg version of the sporty hatch."

It's slow, but an EU "extra-urban" rating of 67 US MPG is quite impressive.

[fodive]

I'd be in.

[ken_vs_ryu]

dumb.

[Deadeye]

Dumb? This is going to be awesome for all the hip single-child soccer moms out there!!!

[MatteBlackCoupeDude]

fuck that, I'll buy one when they hit the used market

A clubman turbodiesel in british racing green with a black roof, and chocolate leather with white piping.

:drool:

new turbo, spank it up to around 240hp or so.

[tenfifteen]

Yawn. ABG says 108hp/177lb-ft, 0-60 in "just under 10 seconds." Pig slow, marginally better mileage, and so what.

For my wife's commute, I did the math, S versus this thing, premium in our S, using standard 34mpg hwy figure for the R56 S (although we routinely see 38mpg freeway). We'd save just shy of $43/mo. Wow.

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/MDmetro.asp

Figures:

400 miles @ 47mpg = 8.51 gallons @ 4.81/gallon = $40.93 * 52wks = $2,128.36

400 miles @ 34mpg = 11.76 gallons @ $4.32/gallon = $50.80 * 52wks = $2,641.60

Annual difference: $513.24/year (or $42.77/month). 4 second difference in 0-60? Priceless.

[Linfone]

Actually it's 65 mpg... Look it up on net.

(400 mi / 65 mpg) * $4.81 * 52 wks = $1539.2

[Spad2008]

Was that Imperial gallons? What about a bigger battery, more oil and filter changes? What would be the cross-over point miles wise vs. stocker Mini? Diesel fuel costs more then regular gas. Gonna be interesting. Spad

[tenfifteen]

http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/05/19/mini-cooper-d-65-mpg-diesel-dream/

Yeah, that looks to be correct; 50 city/67 freeway, US gallons. Plugging in the same numbers (more or less), I get an annual difference of $1103.44, or $91.95/mo. Still not worth the acceleration tradeoff to me, but a much better argument that way.

[ryanl]

Seriously I dont see why America has to be so behind in regards to diesel, both with our cars and the fuel quality... We seem to love the hybrids by not the diesels, which are arguable better for the environment.

[tenfifteen]

Because clean diesel is a recent development and our emissions standards are quite high. The upcoming Jetta TDI won't be available in five states for this reason, last I read.

[w00ht]

The new "Blue" TDI is 50 state legal. According to my dealer should be available in September. The previous TDI was only 49 state legal IIRC.

blog dot wired dot com slash cars slash 2008 slash 04 slash coming-soon-to dot html

(Sorry I'm a rookie who can't post links)

I think the biggest reason the US didn't gravitate towards diesel is that we enjoyed the lowest fuel prices in the world for a very long time. If you do the same calculations used above with fuel prices in the 80's, you get the same result even though gas was a few cents per gallon more than diesel. The additional costs for the vehicle, maintenance and the smaller availability of diesel fuels relegate diesel to an application that someone would buy thousands of gallons of fuel each month and can see the return from slightly better loaded milage and slightly lower fuel costs.

[S14]

sweet! I almost bought a white clubman with hot chocolate interior, but i really wanted the diesel version (they are pretty peppy around town)

I might buy a diesel if they come out:buttrock

[ScottyJ4]

I hope it does. I'd sign up to buy one.