Diesel Mini for Oz

BMW Australia has confirmed the diesel-powered Mini Cooper D hard-top will go on sale here in the middle of this year.

Claimed to be the “fastest accelerating diesel in its capacity class in Australia”, the Mini D’s direct-injection 1.6-litre turbo-diesel produces 80kW and 240Nm of torque (260Nm during “overboost”) from 1750rpm, 70 per cent of which is said to be on tap from 1250rpm.

To be available with both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, BMW claims the Mini D will be Australia’s most cleanest car, returning average CO2 emissions of 104g/km – marginally better than the Smart ForTwo Cabrio mhd (Micro Hybrid Drive), which returns 105g/km.

But while the 52kW two-seater Smart mhd returns a Toyota Prius-matching 4.4L/100km average fuel consumption figure, the Mini D is rated at the same 3.9L/100km the upcoming next-generation Prius is expected to achieve.

Borrowed from BMW’s EfficientDynamics book, the Mini D’s “Minimalism” fuel-saving features include an Auto Start Stop idle-stop function, Brake Energy Retardation and a Shift Point Display.

BMW says the Mini Cooper D, which is expected to carry a price premium over the standard 1.6-litre petrol-powered Cooper hatch (from $31,100).

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