Report: Mini Cooper D no longer coming to stateside… at least for now
Earlier this year, Mini Vice President Jim McDowell, confirmed that the BMW Group brand is considering a diesel engine for the U.S. market by 2010 or 2011. He said that the diesels that Mini currently offers in other markets do not meet U.S. clean-air regulations so Americans will have to wait until the brand comes out with a next-generation diesel engine that will be approved for all 50 states.
According to a report by Mini enthusiast site MotoringFile, the company has decided against bringing diesel Coopers to the U.S. due to “pricing scenarios.”
Apparently, the cost of converting the European diesel engine to U.S. specifications are too much for a three or four year production run. Even if Mini USA charged 10 to 15 percent more than its European counterpart, BMW would never make money on the car.
Nonetheless, MotoringFile says that plans are still on for the R60 based Cooper S D to make it to the stateside.
– By: Kap Shah
Source: MotoringFile
