Diesel Mini Will Be Sold Stateside, But Timeframe is Unknown

An Automotive News story discussing the shortage of Mini's in the USA also contained a tidbit about the diesel model. According to Jim McDowell, vice president of BMW's Mini division, a diesel powered Mini is coming to the United States but not before it can be sold in all 50 states. That's great news for Euro-minded buyers who have been snapping up Coopers like they were garlic fries at an SF Giants game. MMMMM...garlic fries. The Peugeot-Citroen supplied diesel engine is mated with stop/start technology called Efficient Dynamics to boost mileage even further.

Currently, BMW can't pump out enough cars as it is, so adding additional flavors has less of an urgency. The U.S. will see 2,000-3,000 more vehicles allotted thanks to the temporary half of convertible production while that model is switched to the new body style. BMW has said repeatedly that any major increase in production would be very costly and it hesitant to overproduce the car. Once the crossover production is started by Magna in Graz, Austria there will be more flexibility as Mini experiments with production outside of Britain.

source: automotive news