Mini Confirms 1.5- and 2.0-Liter Twin Turbo'd Engines for New Hatch

With an all-new Mini hatchback just around the corner , the BMW-owned British carmaker has revealed technical details about the upcoming generation.

The most important announcement regards the engines, with the new car to debut a new generation of powerplants that will “optimize the balance between driving thrills and fuel consumption yet again”, according to the automaker.

The all-new Mini hatch will be the first to use both three- and four-cylinder engines, that the carmaker says will set “new standards in terms of output, performance, comfort and reliability.”

Mini hasn’t revealed output or performance specs of the engines, but confirmed the 1.5-liter displacement of the 3-cylinder engine and the 2.0-liter displacement of the 4-cylinder unit. Both engines are twin-turbocharged and feature direct injection, with the larger engine most likely to be used by the Mini Cooper S.

Mini said its future models will continue to favor sporty, agile handling and announced the introduction of electrically adjustable dampers - a first for the brand. The electric control of the damper valves will allow the system to vary the nature of responsiveness to uneven road surfaces. Mini says the dampers will have two characteristic curves for adjustment that can be activated at the touch of a button.

Drivers will be able to choose between a “decidedly sporty” drivetrain setting or a more balanced and comfortable setting.

By Dan Mihalascu

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