I would love to see BMW release a Mini diesel in the US. This could actually happen since starting next year they're going to (slowly at least) start selling diesels in the US again.

That's awesome, though that measurement is in Imperial gallons, so in US gallons that means 60.2 mpg. Though if someone was to make a diesel electric hybrid Prius/something... maybe you'd break 75 - 80 mpg US - which would be about 90 to 96 MPG Imperial.

And exactly how are they doing "Brake Energy Regeneration" without electricity? Rubber bands? Am I missing something here?

Also worth at least mentioning in this context is that the Prius is more-or-less a full-sized 4-door hatchback-disguised-as-a-sedan type thing and the mini cooper is, well, mini.

Improving fuel efficiency without decreasing performance is always a plus in my book :)

Great, good to see it. Hey domestics get off your duff 's and start building cars like that. We have enough Hummers already.

I read a couple years ago about a system that recovered breaking energy in the form of pressurized gas, which was then used to propel the car. In this implementation the car's engine was also used to pressurize gas.

By the way, the gas provided power through the car's wheels, not through some jet-engine-like thrusting force.

*shrug* maybe that's how they've done it.

Also I've recently read about a hybrid gas-steam engine that's not much different from a conventional engine but is about 40% more efficient. Thanks popular science :P

I would have to say No. Diesel Failed during the last gas crunch, Remember when GM, Ford, Mercedes and Nissan Introduced Diesel cars back in the early 80's? Remember that they failed miserably? Even when adjusted for inflation gas was even more expensive than it is now? Remember that VW has dropped the TDI from it's line-up because of lack of sales and it could not meet the US's emmissions standards? With the execption of trucks, Americans do not want diesels.

Could they be using the regenerative braking to assist the alternator maybe? Putting a smaller alternator would increase efficiency, which could be accomplished if the regenerative braking is aiding in keeping the electrical system charged.

Well I am 6'7" and the mini does not work for me, so I need a bigger car one that I can drive with good gas mileage too.!!

Toast, you're out to lunch. Nice pun there, hehe. The VW TDI is back in 08, and was only dropped for emissions reasons. PS. The "diesels" you mentioned were complete garbage and should never have been sold. Bring in some competent, German engineering and see what potential is out there with diesel technology.

I believe biggest help to safety on all small autos would be wide tires, tires that hold road. Also in England theres already 92 mpg auto, its 18 years old & nicer, more modern, than this articles model.

The problem with wide tires that hold the road is the fact that the more the tires grip the road, the more energy needed to get the vehicle moving.

That's why a lot of hybrids use low-rolling resistance tires, like the Insight. Take those off and you lose 5-10MPG simply from the resistance on the road. More air in the tires also always helps.

Jason,

I'm 6'7" too and I bought a 2007 Camry Hybrid a couple of months ago. Not having the moonroof helps quite a bit with the headroom.

I belive thay used the same technology mercedes has been using in the high end, the alternator is "unplugged" from the system when you need more power plugged again when you are just driving normally and gets (a lot) of energy from the brakes when you use them.

And Tito was right:

PLEASE, use germany technology for the diesels, american technology on this subject is at least 20 years behind.

And for those that love the Prius, please explain why the Europena jetta diesel has more REAL mpg both in city and highway and costs less than half!!! ow.. another thing, it does have higher emissons than the prius, but less than a regular gas car of the same size.

"And exactly how are they doing "Brake Energy Regeneration" without electricity?"

They use it to recharge the battery, so that the alternator isn't constantly running and sucking power from the engine. BMW already has it on the 1 series and I'm sure they'll have it on all their cars in a year or two.

"Remember that VW has dropped the TDI from it's line-up because of lack of sales and it could not meet the US's emmissions standards?"

The TDI has taken a one year hiatus due to the morons in the government increasing emissions (yet again). Europe is the most eco-conscious continent, yet the US has stricter emissions regulations regarding diesels. The TDI will be back (and better) next year.

Re: TDI

VW TDI is back here in Canada, so it will probably soon be back in the U.S. as well.

I think it's great that diesel technology from Europe can achieve stunning MPG, but at the same time IT WILL curb the development of Hyrbrids/Alternative Fuel as it's bound to be cheaper to produce.

With efficient, clean diesels (BLUETEC etc) why do we even need hybrids / alternative fuels?

Biodiesel seems to have a strong net energy gain (2.5:1) for harvesting. The only downfall is that mass production would mean an increase in meat prices as crop fields become more in demand. Very acceptable side effect I believe.

-Mike

Okay, I might agree that Europe is the most Eco-conscious continent, but only AFTER they already destroyed all their old-growth forests, redirected every river they could and killing off who-knows how many species before we kept track. Today they are largely eco-conscious because the houses/cities/countries all existed when it required real HUMAN work to get anywhere or heat anything or protect anything.

They also keep their gas prices high, not to protect the environment, but to feed significant social programs and help reduce dependencies on foreign powers (remember, there are a lot of europeans who remember being occupied by other countries, something we don't have much of here in the states.)

These realities make it easy for us to believe they are eco-friendly, but it's no more likely you'll own a car in NYC than it is in London, Boston to Paris, Philadelphia to Berlin. Even though the American cities are younger, they're old enough to know better. Now, L.A. on the other hand... It's awful, and it has higher emission standards, now doesn't it...

"I think it's great that diesel technology from Europe can achieve stunning MPG, but at the same time IT WILL curb the development of Hyrbrids/Alternative Fuel as it's bound to be cheaper to produce."

Diesel and hybrid technology can coexist. A diesel hybrid would make people really take notice.

Mark Guessed Right,

The BMW present micro-hybrid system uses a special intelligent alternator system as a regenerator, starter and accelleration assist. They use an absorbant glass-mat lead-acid battery, and probably a super-capacitor to assist with starting. This would be straight forward to add to the Mini-D, and its probably what is on the car. That city mileage is very good, and would probably need the start/stop and regenerative braking to achieve.

Check out:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/01/bmw_to_offer_in.html

North American deisels work well in heavy service pickups, but for personal vehicles like impalas and caddys - no wonder they didn't get acceptance. Not to mention GM's first diesel foe automotive use was an adapted gas engine. By the time they produced a 'designed for' deisel engine, they'd already ruined their reputation. The new deisels in the pickups are a great engine, however the price differential for that option eliminates any fuel savings for average use consumers. North american manufacturers just don't get it.
VW's TDI is likely the best example I'm aware of of the right application for deisel in a passenger car. The car is best for those who commute half an hour or more each way. It's not suitable for short runs in the city, as it doesn't run at operational temperature long enough. Fuel savings were amazing (owned one for 10 years).
Kudos to BMW for adding another choice to the deisel market for passenger cars.

North American deisels work well in heavy service pickups, but for personal vehicles like impalas and caddys - no wonder they didn't get acceptance. Not to mention GM's first diesel foe automotive use was an adapted gas engine. By the time they produced a 'designed for' deisel engine, they'd already ruined their reputation. The new deisels in the pickups are a great engine, however the price differential for that option eliminates any fuel savings for average use consumers. North american manufacturers just don't get it.
VW's TDI is likely the best example I'm aware of of the right application for deisel in a passenger car. The car is best for those who commute half an hour or more each way. It's not suitable for short runs in the city, as it doesn't run at operational temperature long enough. Fuel savings were amazing (owned one for 10 years).
Kudos to BMW for adding another choice to the deisel market for passenger cars.

Part of the problem with Diesels (and hybrids too, regardless of the press they get)in america was that gas is and has always been cheap. That's why people had no problem buying cars that got 12 mpg. It really still isn't. Every other car I see on the road gets less than 20mpg.

When our gas starts to cost $6,$7, then diesels and hybrids will really be taken seriously and we'll start to see diesel hybrids, full electrics, fuel cells and other currently exotic technologies start to make more sense to the average consumer.

Personally, one of my dream cars is still the 320CDI since it's much faster than the gas counterpart. And the 37mpg will sell to my wife.

I love the idea that is very nice the question is how fast does it go and how much does it cost?

Ok guys, the MPG of the Smart in France is 80mpg. Now lets bring this car to the US and BAM
40mpg due to the EPA's { NOS } gas % which is one of many gases what comes out of your tail pipe. The EPA has reduced this gas % so much that every car in the us only gets half the mpg that they could.......Sucks don't it.....so when the MINI Copper D comes to the Good Ol US of A it will only get 36.2 mpg .... Your tax dollars at work..