Photo: MINI
The American market is very well known for its reticency towards diesels. Sometimes, you might even have the unexpected surprise to find yourself low on diesel and every petrol station you try is out, or simply doesn't sell it.
MINI has been going over the idea of introducing diesel versions in the US but how good will they sell? The MINI range is viewed in the US as trendy, cool and fashionable, but not necessarily as practical.
Of course, MINI offers practical cars and sports versions but not diesels. That is because the targeted market doesn't need diesel engines and surely is not interested in them. If there are any possible buyers for diesel MINIs they will probably be new and just a few of the people that are already part of the MINI family.
Another reason because of which MINIs are not available with diesel engines in the US is the design issue associated with the blue tech solution, which uses urea injection to reduce CO2 emissions. In order to find a work-around to this problem, a whole new series of MINI cars will have to be developed.
An equally interesting argument is that future MINI models will probably be lighter and will have extremely good fuel efficiency numbers that will make for diesels obsolete (of course, ignoring the better torque you'll find on a diesel).
Keeping these arguments in mind, the future for diesel MINIs surely looks grim. But who knows, maybe in a few years the market will change and the introduction of diesel MINIs will become reality.
Of course, MINI offers practical cars and sports versions but not diesels. That is because the targeted market doesn't need diesel engines and surely is not interested in them. If there are any possible buyers for diesel MINIs they will probably be new and just a few of the people that are already part of the MINI family.
Another reason because of which MINIs are not available with diesel engines in the US is the design issue associated with the blue tech solution, which uses urea injection to reduce CO2 emissions. In order to find a work-around to this problem, a whole new series of MINI cars will have to be developed.
An equally interesting argument is that future MINI models will probably be lighter and will have extremely good fuel efficiency numbers that will make for diesels obsolete (of course, ignoring the better torque you'll find on a diesel).
Keeping these arguments in mind, the future for diesel MINIs surely looks grim. But who knows, maybe in a few years the market will change and the introduction of diesel MINIs will become reality.
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