Spring into the new Mini

Munich:

Just a few months after the market launch of the new Mini family and the Mini Countryman, the start of 2011 has brought another wave of driving fun and individuality in the premium brand's hallmark style.

The Mini Cooper SD, due for launch in spring 2011, will be the most powerful diesel variant yet in the Mini line-up.

The new 2.0-litre engine, developing 105 kW/143 hp, available for the Mini, Mini Clubman, Mini Convertible and Mini Countryman, will drum up even more power yet burn extremely small amounts of fuel. Motor sport enthusiasts will welcome the new John Cooper Works Pack option also on offer for the Mini and Mini Convertible.

Furthermore, the customary selection of personalisation options available for drivers to configure their Mini in their own image has taken on even greater proportions. The newly developed Mini Yours product range offers a host of extremely attractive customisation options.

The first ambassador of the exclusive and innovative Mini Yours style will be the Mini Clubman Hampton special edition.

The new Mini Cooper SD slots into the range above the Mini One D with 66 kW/90 hp and Mini Cooper D, developing 82 kW/112 hp as the most powerful diesel Mini. Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel unit produces maximum output of 105 kW/143 hp at 4,000 rpm. A standout characteristic of the new diesel is its mighty pulling power, which remains on tap even under heavy loads; maximum torque of 305 Newton metres (225 lb-ft) is available between 1,750 and 2,700 rpm. Add this to the excellent balance between output and fuel consumption familiar from the other models in the Mini family, plus extraordinary power development for a four-cylinder engine, and the Mini Cooper SD has all the tools the sporty driver could ever need.

In its basic construction, the new 2.0-litre diesel fits the same template as the 1.6-litre units fitted in the Mini One D and Mini Cooper D. Its all-aluminium crankcase helps to keep the weight of the engine as low as possible, while the turbocharger with variable intake geometry develops the right level of power at all engine speeds. The engine in the Mini Cooper SD has a model-specific and extremely powerful turbocharger controlled by the engine management system, while common-rail direct injection with solenoid-valve injectors, positioned centrally in the cylinder head, ensure that the fuel is fed in extremely precisely and efficiently. The injection system works with maximum pressure of 1,600 bar and ensures optimum mixture preparation in the combustion chamber.

The new Mini Cooper SD is also fitted as standard with an extensive range of Minimalism technology. In addition to the engine's efficiency, features such as Brake Energy Regeneration, the auto start/stop function, shift-point display, electric power steering and the need-based operation of ancillary components help to produce outstanding fuel economy for this output class.