MINI is apparently not satisfied with the performance levels of its high mileage MINI D so it’s working on something a bit more spritely. The current MINI D is not especially quick right off the line, with a 0-60 time of around 10 seconds from its 108 hp 1.6-liter engine but it does accelerate rapidly once underway. To speed things up a bit, the boffins at MINI HQ have been squirreled away in their garage fitting the 2.0-liter diesel from parent company BMW into the iconic small car.
That’s not a trivial task since all the BMWs that use the engine are rear drive with a longitudinal engine mounting. The MINI, of course, is front drive with a transverse layout. The first version with the BMW engine is expected to use the 150 hp single turbo engine from the 118d but something equivalent to a John Cooper Works model could sport the 204 hp twin turbo unit we loved so much in the 123d.
The faster model could sprint to 60 mph in under 7 seconds and still get 40+ mpg. BMW has acknowledged that it plans to bring its four cylinder diesel to the U.S. market and MINI has also said it would love to sell the MINI D here. We say, bring it on.
[Source: AutoCar]