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The new BMW-derived 2.0-litre diesel starts production in March and will arrive here in June mated to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. It is the first Mini engine that is not a joint venture with BMW, but a wholly BMW product, coming from the 120d and 320d.
Mini corporate communications manager Piers Scott says the trend towards diesel is close to 20 per cent across the Mini range. While this is a growing trend, it is still a long way behind the total passenger market average of 28 per cent or Mini's parent company, BMW, which recently passed 50 per cent diesel.
While diesel engines are expected to appear in more Mini models in the future such as next year's Countryman compact SUV, Scott is guarded about a JCW diesel. "As they say, never say never, but JCW is to Mini what M is to BMW, so that means free-revving engines," he says.
