Forbes Ranks MINI #1 in Design

yeah..that’s just not right.

Most of the list is a joke. The 300….give me a break! A brick with wheels.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The 300 is a polarizing design… as is the MINI. If a designer tries to appeal to everyone the result is Bland (capital B). The 300 is a fresh design which has some design elements that harken back to early limo’ automotive designs. Some people think it’s cool enough to buy (enough to provide good income to Chrysler) You won’t see yourself coming and going on the street in a MINI or 300… or any fresh good design.

You might think of the 300 as bland and unremarkable NOW, but when it first came out, it was quite a revolutionary design. The high belt line, and seemingly “chopped” look of the top were very aggressive. They made the car look very solid and substantial, which was very new to the automotive market at that time. I think it does have a place on the list, but I would agree that the number 2 ranking is a bit unjustified.

No Offense meant but, including the 300 on any Best of Design list is ludicrous. It’s a BRICK with wheels. I see no “fresh” design here or harkening back to anything but BLAND (all caps). I will admit that the chopped top is interesting and had they gotten rid of the typical Chrysler blob front end it may have been interesting as an american style vehicle. Chrysler has F’d up the Viper, the Charger is stupidly bad, and most of their stuff is just bad excluding maybe the Crossfire which has some pretty decent lines. Maybe one of those Raspberry Award’s would be better.*

Also, I have always felt that the CTS was the innovator of “Chiseled Design” that some builders call “Flame Surfacing”. I have gotten into heated discussions over who was first with this look but the CTS was a full year before the “Flaming 5″ came out. I think it’s a tad severe but it was very innovative when it came out.

The rest of the list is a bit stodgy for me, but look at the publication, with the exception of the Vanquish, Koenigsegg, FX45 & MINI.

Glad to see the Prius mentioned but it’s one UGLY design.

That’s my 2bits… not meant to offend…. :>)

• Sorry Frank.

I was in a car wash last year and got to meet Dennis Haysbert (24 / Far From Heaven) He has a Bentley Continental GT. In person it’s a really beautiful car. He approached me and wanted to know how I liked the MINI. He seems like a really nice person.

You might think of the 300 as bland and unremarkable NOW, but when it first came out, it was quite a revolutionary design. The high belt line, and seemingly “chopped” look of the top were very aggressive. They made…

Yes, it was… were… made… but NOT NOW.

That’s the problem. Those kind of cars have fresh look for the first several times you see them, then… they just vanish. It’s like a hit-song. After-all, there are one or two angles only when the 300 looks OK, otherwise it’s very disproportional and bulky. Look at the Phantom, it’s huge. It’s the largest in it’s class. Despite its gigantic dimensions, it is very well balanced and perfectly proportional. One won’t even think it’s so big, unless there is an object or a person next to it.

Why MINI? Because it was great since its birth and BMW followed correct directions giving rebirth to it. There are no overhangs (AUDI) or disproportional tires (Prius) and so on. It just feels right in its size and has many delicate touches.

I am very glad, that BMW/MINI won’t make hideous changes to the design of the new MINI, like other manufacturers would do.

The BMW Bangle Butt is one of these styling cliches that are used by not only the originator (read: rediscoverer, or dumpster-diver), but also the slavish imitators sure to follow.

True Rob, the new Camry has some echoes of this, along with the new Hyundais….it’s definately starting to show up…

…err keep my MINI, not keem(whatever that means) :)

MINI topping this list is no big surprise to me. I completely agree that it’s a design that transcends trend and will live strong for many years to come.

I’m going to chime in with Bill Lawrence and say I really appreciate the 300C. It’s not so much my style, but I really like that bit of Gotham City influence they’ve designed into the 300C, the Magnum, and the Charger. The high belt-lines, the big wheels, and the angular accents that aren’t overdone (like the CTS and the other Caddy’s). And having spent some time with the 300C (rental road trip), I was pleasantly surprised. I haven’t been that impressed with an american sedan in a VERY long time. Not for me, but like Bill, I applaud Chrysler for going in a truly unique design direction that isn’t simply BMW 2 years ago. Though I wish I could say the same for the Dodge truck line. That’s been an evolution of ugly!

Everyone has a BMW? The things I seem to be missing. Let me check out my window…. nope not a Bimmer in sight, lotsa Toyotas though.

Personally, I would love to give the “Home Team” some credit but for what? A muddled Mustang, a horrid Charger, a brick of a 300, a Viper design change that has a white bread appeal, maybe the new Chevy Malibu or Impala? These should be great US icons but “I Think” they stink.

Not saying all imports are great, BTW, as most are as bad. But I’m an american and have been hoping for a long time our cars would get better. The US firms seem to be putting out better stuff in Europe with the companies they own over than here. Why?

To me the 300 is Lounge Lizard, Land Yacht stuff… maybe Chip Fosse could get it right. I will, as you did, give them credit for trying.

I would love a Prowler.

Here’s a “Atta Boy” for US cars, and I never thought I see or say this but the new Saturn Prevue and Sky, from what I can see look decent. The Prevue does look a lot like the FX45 though.

Funny should say that, as Saturn’s latest designs are re-badged (European) Opels… :-)

blalor…..So the Prevue and the Sky are re-badged Opels? I had no idea as I had just seen some pics from the NY Auto show. I went to the Opel site and found the GT but nothing like the PreVue. I wonder where it was designed?

Damon…. I also am a designer and find the 300 offensive to my aesthetics.

Some folk like liver and some don’t. That’s what is so great about what we do for a living……. diversity. My chioce…. Mercedes Mclaren.

Oh Yeah…. :>)

I couldn’t agree more, Gabe. Still wonder where the designs originated.

It’s been nice having discussions about obviously divergent opinions and it not getting personal.

Oh Yeah…….:>)

It will be fun to have the OPEL name back in the states. I miss all the quirky European brands from the 60′s-70′s.