PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
They give everything and use very little: 10 years of MINI diesel engines.
Mon Jun 17 00:00:00 CEST 2013 Press Release
The perfect combination of pulling power and efficiency - diesel technology as the driving force behind MINIMALISM – current engine portfolio includes three diesel engines with a power range of between 66 kW/90 bhp and 105 kW/143 bhp.
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Note: This press release was originally issued by MINI Global Communications and has not been adapted for the UK market.
One man, one engine, and no end of anniversaries: it
was 120 years ago that Rudolf Diesel started developing the
compression-ignition engine that was soon to be named after him. The
very first prototype completed its test run in August of that same
year. The first diesel engine factory was founded 115 years go. The
engine invented by Diesel was used in ships for the first time 110
years ago, and it has been 90 years since the first diesel-powered
truck went on the road. The MINI was first fitted with a diesel engine
ten years ago. Each of these anniversaries is reason enough to
celebrate the qualities of the diesel engine - and to commemorate its
inventor, who died exactly 100 years ago.
Maximum efficiency was the driving force that inspired Rudolf
Diesel to develop his novel engine. His design was based on heating
the air in the combustion chamber by means of compression to such an
extent that the fuel around it would ignite and release large amounts
of energy. This is why the diesel engine has such a high level of
efficiency. The fact that this principle also generates hallmark MINI
driving fun was first demonstrated in the summer of 2003, when the
MINI One D was presented as the first diesel model of the premium
British small car brand. Its 1.4-litre all-aluminium turbodiesel with
common rail direct injection had an output of 55 kW/75 bhp. It
combined the characteristic MINI go-kart feeling with an average fuel
consumption on the EU test cycle of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres.
But this was just the beginning of the diesel engine's career in
the MINI. Two years later the MINI One D was upgraded to 65 kW/88 bhp,
and though its performance figures increased, fuel consumption
remained constant. 2007 saw the launch of the next stage of
development: the Geneva Motor Show was the setting for the world
premiere of the MINI Cooper D. In this model, the new 1.6-litre
turbodiesel now delivered 80 kW/110 bhp. The car's fuel consumption
was reduced yet again in spite of a 25 per cent increase in power
output, while 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres once again put MINI ahead
of the competition in terms of efficiency.
Thanks to MINIMALISM, however, this was still not the last word.
The current MINI models with diesel engines are fitted with further
refined injection technology, turbochargers with variable turbine
geometry, auto start/stop function, shift point display, brake energy
regeneration, on-demand operation of ancillary units,
electromechanical steering and cutting-edge exhaust gas purification
technology. The result: 120 years after Rudolf Diesel made his
pioneering invention, the engine of the MINI Cooper D provides an
impressive peak output of 82 kW/112 bhp, a maximum torque of 270
Newton metres at 1,750 rpm , a fuel consumption on the EU test cycle
of 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometre.
As MINI diesel technology was consistently refined, the variety
of engines which functioned according to this principle increased.
There are now three diesel engines available to choose from for the
MINI. Their common design features reflect the outstanding development
expertise of the BMW Group in the field of engine technology. An
aluminium crankcase, turbocharger with variable turbine geometry,
common rail direct injection with solenoid-valve injectors and a
powerful engine control system geared towards each specific model
guarantee a level of efficiency which impressively confirms Rudolf
Diesel's vision of an "ideal thermal machine".
The latest generation of the MINI One D is powered by a
1.6-litre engine which delivers 66 kW/90 bhp and a maximum torque of
215 Newton metres that goes on stream at 1,750 rpm. Fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions are the same as those of the 82 kW/112 bhp MINI
Cooper D. The entry-level diesel engine is also available in the
models MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman, transferring its power via a
6-speed manual transmission in each case. For the MINI Cooper D there
is also the option of a 6-speed automatic transmission which is
combined with a 2.0-litre version of the 4-cylinder engine in each
model version. The choice between the two variants applies to the
MINI, MINI Clubman, MINI Convertible, MINI Countryman and MINI Paceman.
The latest and most powerful way to experience the kind of
pulling power and efficiency so typical of a diesel engine is provided
by the MINI Cooper SD. Also operating with a capacity of 2.0 litres,
this 4-cylinder power unit generates a peak output of 105 kW/143 bhp
and provides a maximum torque of 305 Newton metres between 1,750 and
2,700 rpm. And this engine offers exemplary economy as well as supreme
power delivery. The MINI Cooper SD sprints from zero to 100 km/h in
just 8.1 seconds, achieving a top speed of 215 km/h. Its average fuel
consumption on the EU test cycle is 4.3 litres to 100 kilometres, with
CO2 emissions of 114 grams per kilometre.
The most powerful diesel in the MINI engine portfolio is
available for all seven models - the MINI, MINI Clubman, MINI
Convertible, MINI Coupé, MINI Roadster, MINI Countryman and MINI
Paceman. In each model it is combined as standard with a 6-speed
manual transmission or else an optional 6-speed automatic
transmission. Its power can also be optionally transmitted to all four
wheels by means of the all-wheel drive system ALL4 in the MINI
Cooper SD Countryman and the MINI Cooper SD Paceman.
As the range of variants has expanded, so the popularity of the
diesel engine in MINI models has continuously increased. Despite the
fact that the market for this engine type is largely focused within
Europe, nearly one in four MINIs supplied to customers in 2012 was
fitted with a diesel.