Spied: MINI Cooper S Diesel Spotted Testing in Germany

[Administrator]

MINI may be preparing to launch a line of high-performance diesel models in Europe in the near future. The speculation comes as both a Cooper and Clubman were spotted at MINI's test facility in Germany. Both cars happened to be dressed up like the more performance-oriented S models, but had typically diesel exhaust notes.

MINI's lineup of base models diesels has proved quite successful in Europe and a line of S Diesels would certainly make sense. Volkswagen has certainly seen that there is a market for high-performance diesels having launched the Golf GTD earlier this year. That GTI-inspired diesel makes 170-hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque while getting 44 mpg.

With the current lineup of diesel MINIs making about 110-hp, we'd expect a Cooper D S to run pump out roughly 140-hp and a solid 200 ft-lbs of torque.

More: Spied: MINI Cooper S Diesel Spotted Testing in Germany on AutoGuide.com

[Paul]

The Cooper S can have a typically diesel engine noise as it is!

[Benfrain]

Also, there is more on the Diesels...

New Cooper D engines in January
New Mini One Diesel first half of 2010
New Cooper S Diesel second half of 2010.

I've posted a little more about the new mini's here

[Lawrothegreat]

There's a real opportunity here, but not with 140hp and 200Ib ft of torque. That wouldn't outperform the petrol model (my stock R56 MCS was dyno'd at 211Ib ft of torque).

I accept the engine bay is probably limited to a 1.6 litre engine?, but a reliable 160hp and 220Ib ft must be possible from a modern 1.6 diesel?