New Mini Cooper SD gets 2.0-liter Turbo Diesel with 143HP and up to 65.7 UK MPG

MINI has introduced the most power diesel variant yet in its line-up in the form of the new Cooper SD which is powered by a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder oil-burner that makes 143-horses at 4,000 rpm and an impressive 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of peak torque, available between 1,750 and 2,700 rpm. The Cooper SD trim is offered in the three-door hatch, the Clubman, the Convertible and the Countryman crossover.

The four-pot diesel is loosely based on the 1.6-litre units fitted in the MINI One D and Cooper D models, and is linked to a standard six-speed manual gearbox with a six speed automatic transmission being offered from launch as an option.

To improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions, all Cooper SD models will come fitted as standard with a Brake Energy Regeneration system, Auto Start/Stop function, Shift Point Display, Electric Power Steering and the need-based operation of ancillary components plus a diesel particulate filter and an oxidation catalytic converter.

In terms of performance, the three-door Cooper SD completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) in 8.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 215 km/h (134 mph), while returning an average fuel consumption of 4.3 lt/100km (65.7 mpg UK or 54.7 mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 114 g/km.

The new Cooper SD Clubman reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 8.6 seconds and also has a top speed of 215 km/h (134 mph). Its average fuel economy is 4.4 lt/100 km (64.2 mpg UK), while CO2 emissions stand at 115 g/km.

The respective numbers for the Cooper SD Convertible are: 8.7 seconds, 210 km/h (130 mph), 4.5lt/100 km (62.8 mpg UK) and 118g/km of CO2.

In the Countryman the new diesel can be teamed up either with front-wheel drive or the all-wheel-drive system MINI ALL4. The FWD Cooper SD Countryman sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.3 seconds, the AWD in 9.4 seconds, on the way to top speeds of 198 and 195 km/h (123/121 mph) respectively. The front-wheel-drive model has fuel economy of 4.6lt/100km, the all-wheel-drive variant achieves 4.9 lt/100 km. CO2 emissions are 122 and 130 g/km respectively.

The new MINI Cooper SD models will get their world premiere at next month's Geneva Salon, with sales set to start across Europe in Spring.

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Credo E-Bone Designer Peter Simon Takes on the Ferrari Enzo

Remember the humorously named yet somewhat plausible Credo E-Bone? It was a design study for a hydrogen powered bus from Hungarian artist Peter Simon, and with a name like "E-Bone", who could forget?

Well, Simon is back, only this time he's taking on something a little more exotic than public transport: he's envisioning the next generation of Ferrari's legendary Enzo. An ambitious task, though one the Hungarian takes on with a plomb.

With more of his trademark organic styling and a design philosophy that both incorporates and rebuffs Ferrari's past and present models, Simon's Enzo is a wonder to behold. From the look of it, Simon's Enzo was hatched, not styled. I can't help but be reminded of the Mitsuoka Orochi: another organically-styled sports car with love it or hate it styling.

A successor to the original Enzo, of which just 400 were produced between 2002 and 2004, has long been rumored though never confirmed by the Italian automaker itself. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit: Peter Simon's Enzo is an interesting response to that brief.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Peter Simon via Yanko Design

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Oh My.... Washington Auto Show Tries to get back on the Radar with Jersey Shore's Snooki and her Doppelgangers

Did you know that there's a motor show currently going on in Washington DC this week? Well, neither did we until we heard about Snooki's special appearance at the show on Monday. We know, we know, shame on us. Nevertheless, there's something fundamentally wrong and to be quite frank, distressing, about a car show that needs the "4'9 tall tanaholic" reality star of MTV’s Jersey Shore and even worse, a competition with her look-alikes, to grab some media attention and draw in the crowds.

Photo Source: Facebook Washautoshow , Link: Washington Auto Show

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NHTSA Investigates 490,000 Volkswagen Passat Models Over Engine Compartment Fires

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has upgraded an ongoing investigation into the Volkswagen Passat with 4-cylinder turbo powerplants over reports of engine fires to include all sedans from the 2001-2007 model years and Wagons from the 2006-2007 model years. Last summer, the government agency had opened a preliminary examination into the 2002-2003 model year Passat amid concerns on fires caused by failing ignition coils. The upgraded investigation now covers some 490,000 VW Passats.

According to a document filed on the safety agency's web site, the Office of Defects Investigation [ODI] has received 14 complaints alleging that a fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle that may be related to ignition coil failure, and 21 complaints of ignition coil failure that did not result in a fire. Volkswagen said it has received another 199 complaints for problems related to coil failures.

The reports received by the NHTSA state that the "vehicle hesitated or lost power, and the check engine or dashboard lights illuminated", and that "the vehicles were repaired by replacing the faulty ignition coil(s) while some of the complaints indicated that the ignition coils were replaced more than once".

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