The Mini Cooper isn't the first car you'd associate with the
environmental movement, but with its frugal four-cylinder engines and
the new Mini E battery-operated version, the Cooper's green credentials
are considerable.
[image:
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2010_mini_one_main630_01-0706-630x360.jpg]
Now Mini's buffing the inexpensive, high-miler Cooper it sells in
Europe as the Mini One. While other Minis get diesel engines, too, the
new Mini One D has a special 90hp (67kW) version of a BMW Group
oil-burner that turns in the equivalent of 6mpg fuel economy. The One D
also includes regenerative braking that supplies juice for accessory
power, and stop-start functionality to save gas in traffic and city
driving.

Mini won't actually be selling the diesel One in America, but it's not
too early to imagine future Coopers coming with the fuel-efficient
drivetrain. For one, BMW's been a huge diesel proponent, from its X5
sport-ute to its newly minted 335d four-door sedan. And in this
application, the acceleration's not so bad. The One D's 0-60 mph time
of 11.5 seconds isn't that far off a 2010 Honda Insight in
acceleration, and fuel economy's comparable, if not better. Top speed
in the Mini One D hits 113 mph, too.

More on Mini's new green cars is coming from the 2009 Frankfurt auto
show. Stay tuned.


*Source: http://car.ohbabe.info/ver2/?cmd=act:news|newsid:2904*




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