They are holding to their word of making cars more efficient, funny how a small car company like that can do it, but GM, Ford, and et all can't! Who are they kidding? Anybody know when this car will be available and how much it will cost?

Good job by the engineers and management of BMW; now if the other auto companies would build efficiency into their autos, we might have a chance at reducing GHGs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Richard,

GM had offered micro Hybrids in ther 2003-2004 timeframe on many vehicles, Satursn and some trucks. All they received for their efforts were hoots of derision, because the mocro-Hybrids weren't as good, (But not as expensive) as the full Hybrid Prius drivetrain.

Now that a gloried foreign auto-maker appears with the same technology 5 years later, you applaude it, and criticize American comapnies.

Way to go, fella !

Stan,

Get a grip, if US car companies could build decent cars the invasion of the market space would not have happened to the extent that it has

The US companies have lost the lead in innovation to others, maybe if they had stuck to their guns, as Toyota did with the Prius (remember the scoffs of GM executives saying Toyota were losing money on every hybrid!!) they would have growing market share rather than shrinking

Stan, what is important, the technology or the end results? The GM vehicles you mention struggle to get 30 miles per gallon, and don't really do any single thing that well (a problem shared by most SUVs). I'm guessing that is the reason they weren't received very well. This mini gets 60 mpg, has good acceleration, nice handling, and styling that a lot of people find appealing. I can't speak for everyone, but I have nothing against GM other than the fact that they basically don't sell cars in the US that I find practical and appealing (sorry, I'm not in the market for an SUV, or one of their many indistinguishable V6 powered automatic transmission sedans). In fact, though, I own two classic Chevys (appealing but not practical), and if Chevy started selling Volts tomorrow for under $30K, I would buy one yesterday.

My last post to Stan, not Richard (oops).

Neil,

The ladies do love it...just as they love the modern Beetle, but I am not a lady and thus a car designed to appeal to them does not appeal to me. The recent Lancer appeals to me, but I doubt many women find it to be a car they would like to drive based on looks alone. Cuteness does not sell a car to me...handling performance, fuel efficiency, safety and reliability sell a car to me (otherwise I wouldn't be able to get over the looks of the mini cooper even if it achieved 100mpg and could do the 1/4 mile in 10 seconds).

Patrick: You missed my point. The car is a chick magnet (unless of course you're not into such things) Oh, and you don't have to be female to like the looks of it either (although I prefer the Elise or MR2).

Neil,

If you need a car to attract women, then you are better off buying an Elise, Ferrari, Porsche, or BMW.

My point is: Just because women think a car is cute does not mean it will do anything for YOU in dating. I don't see guys in VW Beetle's with more women than guys in Audi A4s...most women don't want to compete with your car for your attention anyways.

Patrick: LOL ... how did we get so far off topic? (and so nasty) While the Mini was a chick magnet, when I first got the Mini (one of the first in Vancouver) most of the people that wanted to come and talk about it were older folks that used to own one of the originals. Once you have one the driving characteristics become quite addictive.

I have no doubt that some will appreciate a MINI for its inherit abilities, but it matters little since US market prefers the gas-guzzler version of the MINI, and MINI USA would not change that formula by shipping misers like the MINI D and have them sit idle in a lot. It, too, knows that a diesel MINI probably won't compete well against the likes of hybrids and the soon to be crowded US micro car market.

I think the diesel strategy in the US will remain in the luxury and truck market. I know that Honda and many other companies have announced possible lower-priced diesel offerings in the future, but that is still remain to be seen. SUVs may have lost some of its luster, but it has only shifted down in size, and most have really just given way to crossovers. For now, there is probably no profit in adding diesel to the crossover segment, as it is doing quit well without it. The cars market may have made a SLIGHT comeback due to higher fuel costs, but it is already so crowded with so many choices, only the desperate (VW) would want to hurry and push diesel into its line-up; to distinguish itself in a shrinking market share.

I know that there are lots of diesel fan in the forum here, and no doubt some will disagree with my assessment. I would only point to the consistent trend in the diesel offerings: MINI D STILL won't be offered here in the US, VW's diesels will still be a niche market in 2008, and the bulks of diesel sales will STILL be in the truck market. (can't find any stats on how BlueTEC is doing so far...)

Hi All,

If Saturn were doing what Mini is doing - and putting the energy saving technology on EVERY car, well, then GM would not be open to such criticism. Instead they still intend this technology just as a confusion factor by calling a "Greenline" for people trying to decide FEH, Prius or GM. There should be no "Greenline", every vehicle should have this, with an optional "Redline" for the totally deluded boy-racers. By making it an optional thing, the Saturn is signalling it does not believe in better Fuel Economy, just in marketing imperatives.

Btw, Diesel in Europe now round about 50% of the sold cars. In 2020 around 25% because of the coming Euro VI emmission regulation in 2014 (unfortunatelly that late). Prices for exhaust gas after treatment is riseing!
http://www.atkearney.de/content/misc/wrapper.php/id/49907/area/automotive/name/pdf_eb_19_powertrain_secure_11805159754720.pdf
(in GErman with some English)