Sunday, 25 January 2009 Trevor Williams

The Mini Diesel

MINIMALISM is a new option for the MINI in Europe (why do they always seem to get the funky little cars?), tweaked to get even better fuel consumption. MINI MINIMALISM is a Cooper D, which has a Peugeot 1.6-liter diesel engine with 110hp (80kW) and 177ft.lb (240Nm).

To get even better fuel consumption BMW has used taller gear ratios, an engine Stop & Start system (cuts off the engine when the clutch is engaged and the hand-brake is on), a gear change indicator (for those of us who like to go to the red line a bit too often), smoother aerodynamics with an improved belly-pan, low-rolling resistance tires which help a lot with overall savings and a revised electric oil pump to reduce electrical and mechanical loads.

The combined (UK) fuel consumption is 60.7mpg US gallon (3.9l/100 km, 4.2l/100km for an automatic), greenhouse gas emissions of 0.37lb/mile (104g/km, 134g/km for an auto) of CO2.  The 0-60mph (0-100kph) is 9.9s (10.3s for the auto) and a top speed of 122mph (195kph) – speed limits allowing of course.

It begs the question - who needs a hybrid when a small diesel does such a good job? For comparison, the new Honda Insight Hybrid is rated at 41mpg US gallon (5.8l/100km), 0.35lb/mile (101g/km) of CO2, 98hp (73kW) gasoline engine and 123ft.lb (167Nm) of torque (plus a 13hp electric motor) and 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 10.4seconds. The new 2010 Prius has a 50mpg US gallon fuel consumption (4.7/100km) and a 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 9.8seconds, with a 98hp gasoline engine and 36hp electric motor, with 104g/km for CO2 emissions.

The Mini Diesel

In the US the pricing is approximately: Honda Insight US$23,000, Toyota Prius US27,600 and the MINI Diesel – well, you can’t buy it but in Britain it is 14,700 British Pounds – US$20,200). So the MINI Cooper D is way cheaper, just as fast, has better fuel consumption, similar low emissions and is more fun to drive - the stick-shift that is. The only drag is 4 seats, not 5, but when was the last time you had a full car,…pity it can’t be bought in North America.

MINIMALISM: http://www.mini.co.uk/

Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specialising in renewable energy, power grid modelling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites.


https://new.minimania.com/MINIMALISM___Who_Needs_A_Hybrid_