When did mini upgrade the 1.6 engine to 122bhp

[Paulstar808]

Hi all,

It's my first post on the forum, so hi everyone.

I'm looking to purchase a new car soon. I'm currently driving a 2004 1.4 ford fiesta so a mini is going to fell like a Rolls Royce in comparison.

I'm just looking and for my budget of £10,000 I can get low mileage basic spec 2010 car or I can get a slightly older car but with an increased spec.

I'm just wondering when the 122bhp engine was released? As some models say 120 bhp and others 122bhp.

Any help would be great.

[Caveman]

The Cooper engine was upgraded from 120 to 122 bhp effective with March 2010 builds for the European market. The US and Canada didn't get upgraded engines until September 2010 production.

MotoringFile - MINI’s Revised 2011 Engines In Depth

[Paulstar808]

Quote: Originally Posted by Caveman (original)

The Cooper engine was upgraded from 120 to 122 bhp effective with March 2010 builds for the European market. The US and Canada didn't get upgraded engines until September 2010 production.

Thanks caveman.

On autotrader there is no difference in the performance or mpg between the two engine models. Is this the case in real life?

[Caveman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paulstar808 (original)

On autotrader there is no difference in the performance or mpg between the two engine models. Is this the case in real life?

I believe the torque figures are the same for both engines.

I doubt you could feel the 2 horsepower difference.

[Angib]

I doubt anyone could feel less than a 10hp difference, reliably. 2hp, definitely not. If the torque curve is similar, the engines will feel the same.

Sadly, everyone looks at a few numbers (hp, torque, 0-60) and uses those to decide which engine is better or worse. The reality is that most drivers would prefer driving a lower-powered engine that had more torque lower down the rev range, as they would think it was "more powerful".

BIKE magazine even conducted a serious test of this many years ago, getting less extreme camshafts cut for a bike engine and fitting it with smaller carburettors. Everyone, except actual racers, thought that the detuned engine had more power and was nicer to ride - because it did have more power, at the revs street riders used every day.

A US study showed that majority of drivers never (repeat never) use more than half the rev range or more than half the throttle travel - which shows exactly why some drivers think the Mini's Sport button is good, because it increases the perceived power. Chrysler even went so far in the US as to recalibrate their throttle linkages to give the same effect all the time.

[Climbing off soap box.....]

[Paulstar808]

Quote: Originally Posted by Angib (original)

I doubt anyone could feel less than a 10hp difference, reliably. 2hp, definitely not. If the torque curve is similar, the engines will feel the same.

Sadly, everyone looks at a few numbers (hp, torque, 0-60) and uses those to decide which engine is better or worse. The reality is that most drivers would prefer driving a lower-powered engine that had more torque lower down the rev range, as they would think it was "more powerful".

BIKE magazine even conducted a serious test of this many years ago, getting less extreme camshafts cut for a bike engine and fitting it with smaller carburettors. Everyone, except actual racers, thought that the detuned engine had more power and was nicer to ride - because it did have more power, at the revs street riders used every day.

A US study showed that majority of drivers never (repeat never) use more than half the rev range or more than half the throttle travel - which shows exactly why some drivers think the Mini's Sport button is good, because it increases the perceived power. Chrysler even went so far in the US as to recalibrate their throttle linkages to give the same effect all the time.

[Climbing off soap box.....]

A really good post there thanks. Now i know a change occurred I'm more concerned if there is a difference in the mpg rather than the 2bhp increase.

I'm guessing that the 2bhp increase has come from and increase in engine efficiency. Can anyone confirm this?

Many thanks
Paul