THE most powerful diesel version of the MINI will be going on sale in March.
Priced from £18,750 the new MINI Cooper SD will by powered by a two-litre 143bhp engine giving it a top speed of 134mph and a 0 to 60 acceleration time of 8.1 seconds.
The engine, which will also be going into the MINI covnertible, Clubman and Countryman models, is said to be capable of averaging 65.7mpg with emissions of 114g/km.
MINI says tahat at 143bhp its new engine produces 143 bhp, almost 28 per cent more than the Cooper D and nearly 60 per cent above that of the One D.
Also launching in the UK in March are two new special edition MINIs - the Clubman Hampton and a new hatch, the MINI Pimlico.
The Clubman Hampton is named after Hampton Court while the Pimlico takes its names from the London borough.
The Cooper Hampton entry level will cost £20,360 and the MINI One Pimlico £14,465.