Frank Stephenson, the designer of the current MINI, is interviewed in Business Week’s online edition this week. While he spends most of the interview talking about Fiat (his new project), we can easily apply some of the finer points to the MINI brand. Here’s an excerpt:
>How important is the interior design of a car?
The interior is the big battleground of the moment. It is a way to win over the customer. The exterior may look good, but if the interior doesn’t convince, people will get rid of the car. It’s like falling in love with the mind and character of someone, after being attracted to their face. Unless you love the inside of the car, it won’t do the trick.
>We’re all pushing for advances in interior design. Everyone is doing different things with the instrumentation. We may see 3-D effects, softer materials that feel better, and ergonomically well-designed cars. It’s a constant battle to find some competitive advantage in interior design.
High recommended reading material. Check out the entire article below:
[ Fiat’s Sexy Designs on Success
Related:
[ Frank Stephenson Profiled in Automobile Magazine ] MF
[ Frank Stephenson Profiled at the Car Connection.com ] MF
[ Five Years ago this week ] MF
I hope he uses design cues for the new Fiat 500 on the ’55 Cinquencento not that later car. One would also hope that they either rid themselves of the MultiPla or go back to a version of the ’60’s style. And yes I know the current MultiPla has one some awards but it looks like an ugly bottle nosed dolphin. I dove one in Italy 5 years ago. Seats 6 people comfortably good mileage and powerful but has a trunk smaller than the MINI. Also a bit tight in those hill top towns where the streets are VERY, VERY, VERY NARROW. Glad it came equipped with folding mirrors!
I don’t know much about Mr. Stevens but I wonder why they call him an American designer? Born in Moroco/European parents. Is it because he was trained at Art Center College of Design Pasadena, Ca?
How can a person born in Morocco to European parents be labelled an “American designer”?
He only went to design school there and worked for Ford USA. Last I read he was at Maserati – now its ex Ferrari and now Fiat. He should have stayed at MINI but I guess money talks.
I’m looking forward to his resurrection of the Fiat 850 Coupe, now that was some car in it’s day, that was a threat to Mini. Or how about the new Bambina 500cc – this WAS a SMALL car! And then there are the Abarth tuning models to introduce.
All he has to do is fix Fiat’s body rust and corrosion problem.
Doesn’t Fiat own Ferrari? Never heard he went to Maserati just from BMW/MINI to Ferrari.
Yes Fiat owns Ferrari.
>The exterior may look good, but if the interior doesn’t convince, people will get rid of the car.
>Unless you love the inside of the car, it won’t do the trick
So true. Mr. Stephenson should listen and heed his own words. If MINI is going to use the dash for the new 2007 Mini that we’ve all seen in pictures, IMO most people won’t like it. (wont’ do the trick) Speaking for myself, I hate it, and I wouldn’t purchase another Mini if they used that dash/speedo design.
Who the heck wants all the readouts (Radio, clock, etc) all in the speedo? If something goes wrong with the radio it will be costly to fix. Besides it just looks ugly.
He was largely responsible for the Maserati MC12, which (visually, at least) was far more successful than the “4th place finisher in a Sixth Grade origami competition” Ferrari Enzo on which it was based.
<blockquote>So true. Mr. Stephenson should listen and heed his own words. </blockquote>
Frank Stephenson is no longer a designer at MINI/BMW. He left in 2002 to take a job at Ferrari and has now shifted to Fiat (the owner of Ferrari).
Could it be that Mr. Stephenson holds US Citizenship?
I am a naturalized US citizen and even though I was not born here, I still consider myself “American”….
Oh and I have lived here 20 years of my life (14 in my native homeland)…
I’m liking the grill, used to hate it. Looks more like original…lites…eh….maybe will grow on me.
I must admit did not know Fiat owned Maserati….How about that….ya learn sumptin’ every day.
I’ll take that 4th place finisher that just happens to be one of the most sought after cars in the world!
Oops…..meant part of my comment…”I’m liking the grill”……for the MINI Detroit post.
That was a good article in BusinessWeek by Stephenson about where car design is heading. And a great comment that one about making cars that you really want to touch with your hands. I heard he sounds American because his father has dual nationality – Norwegian/American and his mother’s Spanish? And I think he runs all of Fiat Group Design which means Lancia and trucks too. Can’t wait to see if his redesign of the Fiat 500 has the same success as our MINI! Might be something to check out if the all new 2007 (?) MINI doesn’t satisfy!