Punchy diesel bound for Mini Cooper

By Phil McNamara

Motor Industry

07 November 2006 09:00

Mini is planning the first ever diesel Cooper – and the common-rail unit will have almost 50 percent more power than the outgoing Toyota engine.

The Mini Cooper diesel will run the 1.6-litre HDi four, which features in Peugeot-Citroen and Ford cars. Peak power is 110bhp, with 180lb ft of torque on tap. Those outputs shame the outgoing Mini One D, whose 1.4-litre Toyota engine yielded 74bhp and 140lb ft. Mini is confident enough in the engine to offer it in sporty Cooper guise. Expect the HDi-powered car to crack the 0-62mph sprint in under 10sec, around 2.0sec quicker than the One diesel that's heading for the great scrapyard in the sky. Expect Mini to show the new model at the Geneva motor show in February 2007, with UK sales due in April. Expect to pay around £13,500 for the model. The diesel isn't the only Mini variant due in 2007. The entry-level One, which runs a 1.4-litre petrol with around 90bhp, arrives around the same time. And the wagon version – tipped to be called Clubman – should follow in the autumn.

By Phil McNamara