Sections: Best of the Web Oct 26th, 2005 9 Comments 
MINI.com has a fantastic feature on both the 2005 MINI Concepts that have recently debuted. The site features both the Concept Frankfurt and Concept Tokyo as well as the various prototype components that went into both. The site also has an in-depth video showing the process of designing and building of the concepts. Excellent stuff and definitely worth checking out:
[ The MINI Concept Car (main page) ] MINI.com
[ The MINI Concept Frankfurt ] MINI.com
[ The MINI Concept Tokyo ] MINI.com
[ MINI Concept Frankfurt Video ] MINI.com (13mb QT)
Related
[ MINI Concept Frankfurt In-Depth ] MotoringFile
[ MINI Concept Tokyo In-Depth ] MotoringFile
Nathaniel Salzman Oct 26th, 2005 Link
The video is really cool – you get a couple details we didn’t see in any of the photos – like the cup holders in action or the motorized cover for the headlights. I’d love to have access to all the gear for fabricating 3D plastic parts like that.
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David Bunting Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Another feature from the video: the union jack “seams” between the hood and the front quarter panel contain a turn signal indicator. Cool.
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Josh Wardell Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Wow check out the spinning guage face and motorized eyelids at 2:29! Great to see the air vent cupholders in action too.
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O(=^=)O Capn Oct 26th, 2005 Link
I kept rewinding it to look at the spinning gauge to see how they did the MINI logo inside of it. Well, it is concave and written on the inside wall 2x so that what is obscured is ledge able by the other side. Trick!
A flat gauge turning in a hollow. way cool!
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doug Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Well that is WAYYYY to busy.
If any of that makes it’s way into that model, I’m steering clear.
Unless they have a SOLID Warranty on all that nonsense.
I hope none of those frilly, sissy features make their way into ANY Edition of MINI.
Unexciting… Uninspiring Dissappointing
BUT, I guess they have to cater to the fluff audiences.
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RB Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Fun video. Thanks Gabe for the heads up on it.
Gotta say the front end is starting to grow on me, but still think there is too much overhang. Prefer the louvers over the mesh of the Tokyo version. Looks like the original Mini and find all the little goodies fun. Still find the Tokyo version obnoxious. But to each their own.
Kinda reminds me of the Haute Couture stuff from Paris fashion shows, over the top and never meant to be anything other than art.
I think maybe I missed the obvious and forget my own advice that it ain’t rocket science.
I also think you have to separate the wagon from the car.
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RB Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Also……..those are some kickin’ rims in the drawings at the start of this article.
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Gabe Oct 26th, 2005 Link
Also……..those are some kickin’ rims in the drawings at the start of this article.
You got that right..
BTW anyone notice the little 3rd door on the bottom right sketch? I’d expect this on the production version of the Traveler/Clubman
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