The all-new turbo-charged 128 kW MINI Cooper S
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Image Gallery ( 22 images )July 31, 2006 The full reveal of the next generation MINI is just one month away, but MINI has provided a sneak preview of the new car’s mechanical package at a final pre-production shake-down in Holland. Lightly camouflaged next generation MINIs were driven by European media earlier this month and the expectation of a turbocharged MINI has materialised. The next generation MINI will be powered by new British-built engines, featuring for the first time, turbocharged induction, and the news that every part of the powertrain and chassis has been thoroughly revised or updated. Engines and transmissions, suspension and steering, brakes and safety systems are new from the ground up. Engineers were tasked with enhancing the legendary agility and control delivered by the go-kart-like MINI handling. The first of the next generation MINI models to reach the international market will be the MINI Cooper - equipped with an 88 kW four-cylinder naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with the turbo-charged 128 kW MINI Cooper S following then the MINI One and MINI One Diesel will follow later in international markets. The MINI Cooper S features an ‘Overboost’ slingshot torque feature for super fast acceleration.
The new MINI Cooper and the new MINI Cooper S are powered by the first representatives of a new range of high-technology engines.
Both have dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder driven by a chain. The engine block and cylinder head are cast from a special aluminium alloy and feature a motorsport-derived bedplate design.
The engines set new standards in the class for innovation, power, performance and efficiency (including complying with the strict Euro IV emission standard). Many of the high-technology features have previously only been available in far more expensive or larger vehicles.
These include, a volume flow-controlled oil pump, and a water pump that switches itself off when not required, saving fuel.
MINI Cooper
The new engine fitted to the MINI Cooper develops 88 kW at 6,000 rpm and 160 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. It has a 6,500 rpm red line and delivers 140 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm.
Fully variable inlet valves are controlled by the unique and highly-acclaimed BMW VALVETRONIC system. This allows the engine to breathe freely, without the traditional restrictions imposed by a throttle butterfly.
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