The little oil-burner will start at $33,750 and is being spruiked by Mini as the most efficient and cleanest vehicle to go on sale in the Australian market yet.
Using stop-start and brake energy regeneration systems, the Cooper D will lay claim to 104 grams of CO2 per kilometre and a thirst of just 3.9 litres per 100km.
By comparison, the current number-one is the smart fortwo micro-hybrid, which claims 3.9l/100km and 105g/km of CO2.
Toyota's Prius petrol-electric lays claim to a thirst of 4.4l/100km and emissions 106g/km.
The company expects the Cooper D won't send the beancounters into a frenzy as it's an unknown segment for diesel.
But Mini staffers say the Cooper D will be used as a barometer for diesel variants for other Mini models — but no decision has yet been made on which will be Australia's next Mini diesel model.