Diesel power for MINI, Audi cabrio

17 May 2002: BMW has confirmed that a diesel MINI will be available in 2003. A 1.4-litre diesel engine has been sourced from Toyota, where it has been introduced into the Toyota Yaris line-up.

It will be built in Japan and modified for performance and physical fit into MINI’s engine bay.

The Oxford production plant in the UK will build up to 20,000 diesel MINIs per year.

Meanwhile, Audi is to provide a diesel-powered convertible from the autumn, powered by a 155bhp 2.5 V6 TDi engine. The car currently comes with 2.4- and 3.0-litre V6 petrol units.

The TDi is expected to cost somewhere between the two existing engines. It should also be available with the Multitronic CVT gearbox.

Diesel car sales in Ireland have increased from 10.34 percent of the total market in 1999 to just under 12 percent in 2001. Sales of diesel cars for the first three months of this year showed a 15% diesel takeup.

May 2002