The new Mini Cooper SD twin-turbo diesel has just been revealed. With 170 hp (125 kW) and a 0 - 62 mph (100 km/h) time of just 7.2 seconds with the optional 6-speed Steptronic transmission, the SD promises to be the fastest and most powerful diesel-powered Mini ever produced.
Built at the British Mini plant in Oxford, England, the Cooper SD sports a hood scoop, big fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a set of twin central tailpipes at the rear. It also wears the traditional sporting livery associated with Minis of old; twin white stripes on the hood and the option of racing green paint for the body.
With the help of variable turbine geometry and common rail injection with electromagnetic valve injectors, the Mini's 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine produces a professed 280 lb.ft (360 Nm) of torque at just 1,500 rpm. Yet the Cooper SD manages a claimed average fuel consumption of 4.0 - 4.1 L/100 km (57.3 - 58.8 mpg US / 68.9 - 70.6 mpg UK).
Building on an increasingly long heritage of new-era Minis and, in particular, sporting variants of the "S" and "SD" models, the new Mini SD features brake energy regeneration, an auto Start/Stop function, and electric power steering.
Keen-eyed readers will also note that there is only an "S" badge on the Mini's grille, but a full "SD" badge on its rear. Given the Mini's sporty nature, one can only assume that the rear is mostly what the designers expected everyone to see at the local traffic lights grand prix.
Whatever the reason, the new Mini SD promises to be quite a peppy little car with great fuel economy. And, if previous models are anything to go by, a popular one too.
Source: BMW
