Red hot diesel Mini Cooper 02 | 02 | 2011

WHO EVER said diesels were slow? Certainly not the guys at BMW and Mini. Due to enter Scottish showrooms in just a matter of months, Mini has lifted the wraps from its most powerful diesel model, the Cooper SD.

While we'll have to wait till the Geneva Motor Show in March to get our first sight of the car in the metal, the Cooper SD — powered by a 2.0-litre, common-rail turbodiesel powerplant producing 141bhp, and a whopping 225lb/ft between 1750-2700rpm covers 0-62mph in 8.1secs and will hit 134mph. And just for good measure, it'll return 65.7mpg and just 114g/km of CO2.

These figures relate to the Clubman and the Convertible, but if you fancy the Countryman, the SD will be offered in a choice of two and four-wheel drive forms. The 2WD version is 0.1sec quicker to 62mph than the All4 version, at 9.3sec, and is more economical, at 61.4mpg versus 57.6mpg.

Externally, the SD across the range mirrors the styling of the Cooper S, with a larger front air intake and a bonnet scoop. All variants — apart, obviously from the Cabrio — get a roof spoiler. Plans are also in place to introduce a six-speed automatic gearbox as an option on the SD.

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Jim McGill