Mini has confirmed the most powerful diesel model in its line-up to date: the Cooper SD.
Due for launch in the spring, after a public debut at the Geneva motor show, the Cooper SD features a 2.0-litre, common-rail turbodiesel powerplant producing 141bhp and a hefty 225lb ft between 1750rpm and 2700rpm. That’s more than 30lb ft up on the John Cooper Works performance models.
See the official pics of the new Mini Cooper SD
The unit — built on the same architecture as the Mini’s 1.6-litre oil-burner — has an all-aluminium crank case and a variable-geometry turbocharger. The SD spec also includes stop-start, brake energy regeneration and electric power steering in a bid to boost efficiency. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.
The set-up will also come on the Clubman, Countryman and Convertible. In the three-door it delivers 0-62mph in 8.1sec and is good for 134mph, but also 65.7mpg and 114g/km of CO2. The Clubman and Convertible hit 62mph in 8.6sec and 8.7sec respectively, and return 64.2mpg and 62.8mpg.
Read more on the recent changes to the Mini range
The Countryman SD will be offered in two and four-wheel drive forms. The front-drive variant is 0.1sec quicker to 62mph than the All4 version, at 9.3sec, and is more economical, at 61.4mpg versus 57.6mpg.
The exterior of the SD models sticks closely to that of the Cooper S, including a larger front air intake and a bonnet scoop. There’s also a roof spoiler on all variants but the Convertible.
Mini plans to offer a six-speed automatic gearbox as an option on the SD, and it will also use that transmission on regular D models. In an unusual move, though, the D autos will use the 2.0-litre motor, detuned to match the power and torque of the 1.6.
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