Mini Cooper 2014 Models Gas Mileage Inflated by BMW

BMW has overstated the gas mileage estimates on the window stickers on four of its 2014 Mini Cooper models.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States has directed the British car manufacturer to reduce its mileage figures for the 2014 Mini Cooper three-door model and Mini Cooper three-door S models (both for automatic and manual transmissions), reports abcNews.

The directive is an offshoot of an EPA audit that showed the BMW figures for the 2014 Mini Cooper models were overstated between one to four miles per gallon, added abcNews.

In an official statement released on October 22, EPA said that it found out about the mileage discrepancy after it concluded its testing at its laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

US News also reported that the EPA's findings netted lower mileage values than BMW.

The EPA noted that the biggest discrepancy was in highway mileage, but city and combined mileages must also be reduced, abcNews said.

"To provide consumers with the most accurate, reliable, and repeatable fuel economy values, we are continuing to strengthen our oversight to ensure fair competition among automakers," said Christoper Grundler, director of the EPA's Transportation and Air Quality office.

BMW will have to make the biggest reduction on gas mileage estimate on the 2014 Mini Cooper S model with manual transmission, from 38 to 34 miles per gallon highway mileage. City mileage for the same model has to be shaved from 25 to 24 miles per gallon, reports the New York Times.

A spokeswoman for BMW explained that their company's estimates were higher for their 2014 Mini Cooper models because their figures for wind drag, tire rolling resistance, and engine transmission friction were lower than those calculated by EPA, the New York Times pointed out.

She did not say however whether the error was intentional or not on their company's part. But BMW, she said, will be willing to cooperate with the EPA's Office of Enforcement if the agency would conduct further investigation.

In compliance with the directive of EPA, BMW has already sent new labels or window stickers for in-stock 2014 models, the company said in an official statement.

"Mini Cooper engineers worked with the EPA to incorporate agency findings into Mini's computer simulation testing," the statement added.

The overstated BMW gas mileage finding is the fourth in the last two years for the EPA with an international automaker.

Previously, the agency has also ordered Hyundai-Kia, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz to reduce mileage models on some of their vehicle models following audit and test results from EPA, reports abcNews.