New Mini Cooper 3-cylinder engine offers better mpg

"The engine’s slender power band sits low in the rev range and is yoked to gearing taller than a skyscraper (at 100 mph in sixth, the tach reads just over 3000 rpm). So, the motor is markedly calm on the highway. Diligent shifting is required for maximum haste. Yet even when fully wound out, the three-pot remains baby-bottom smooth and emits only a pleasing gurgling sound and subtle turbo whistle. We recorded an average of 32 mpg -- 2 more than the old Cooper."