In the summer of 2003 MINI presented the One D, its first model with a diesel engine. The 1.4 turbo common rail produced 75 PS and gave the small luxury an average consumption of 4.8 lt/100 km. In the 10 years since then, technology has come a long way. Thus, high power goes hand in hand with low consumption. Today, MINI diesel engines have an even more efficient injection system, variable geometry turbo, start/stop and “partners” such as braking energy recovery. All this and much more results in the larger capacity 1.6 in the current Cooper D displaying a maximum power of 112 PS and needing a combined cycle of 3.8 lt/100 km (99 g. CO2 per km).
The British marque’s current range of diesel engines also includes the 1.6 with 90 PS for the One D (also with 3.8 lt/100 and 99 g/km) and the top 2-litre for the Cooper SD versions. It produces 143 PS and in the 3-door MINI it needs just 4.3 lt/100 km (114 g/km).
Diesel engines are particularly popular in Europe, but lately their qualities have been noticed by drivers in other corners of the world (eg in the USA). Characteristic of their penetration into the buying public, is the fact that one in 4 MINIs delivered in 2012 had a diesel engine. And the percentage will continue to rise in the coming years.