We had heard rumors last year of Italdesign’s involvement in the next generation MINI but at the time they were sketchy and hardly worth a mention. Well they’re sketchy no more. Automotive news has put the pieces together and is reporting that Italdesign is working with BMW to help engineer the car’s chassis and body structure. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
>BMW styled the new Mini and designed the Mini’s powertrain jointly with its cooperation partner PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and it will be built at Mini’s UK plant. But Italdesign is handling all other development — including developmental engineering of the body, structure and chassis — and parts validation.
>…BMW says it chose an outsider to handle the development because it lacked capacity in its Munich headquarters and engineering facilities.
>“It is a question of capacity within the company,†said Burkhard Göschel, BMW board member for research and development.
You can read the entire article below:
[ Next MINI Has Italian Roots ] Automotive News
MF Analysis:
While these are crucial parts of a car that Italdesign is engineering, I wouldn’t be too concerned about this changing the MINI’s soul. Remember that what Italdesign is working on is basically the underlying body structure and not the final performance of the car. And for those who are still worried, consider that much of the current MINI was developed by engineers at Rover in the 90’s and by Chrysler drivetrain employees in Detroit. And that seemed to work out rather well.
hmmm….
Well, I don’t have a problem with this particular studio, they have an excellent track record. Italian blood could add an interesting element.
BCNU,
Rob in Dago
Yes hopefully more sex appeal and less cute appeal. 😀
<blockquote>Yes hopefully more sex appeal and less cute appeal. :D</blockquote>
Hey if the chasis and underlying body structure can give you <b>any</b> appeal, more power to ya 🙂
so the new one will NOT be engineered by BMW? the funky new asthetics and design direction i could take, but i hope this doesn’t dilute the handling we’ve come to expect from this little car.
I assume that the handling of base models will be diluted. It just seems inevitable.
<blockquote>I assume that the handling of base models will be diluted. It just seems inevitable.</blockquote>
Why would you assume that? BMW has said over and over again the core attributes to the MINI are the design and the handling. Do really think BMW doesn’t know how to make a great handling car?
<blockquote>I assume that the handling of base models will be diluted. It just seems inevitable.</blockquote>
Yeah, seriously. I mean can anybody think of a serious italian sports car? Oh wait…
Besides, the article doesn’t say anything about Italdesign handling suspension components. All they’re doing is reworking the body panels on the new car and adjusting the frame underneath. It isn’t as though they’re starting from scratch, and I seriously doubt they’re unsupervised by BMW. Sure, I’m with you in that I’d much rather see it done in Munich, but I think in the end their involvement will be much more “take your daughter to work day”
The MINI is so international already, a little more euro flavor won’t hurt.
indeed, gabe, but the rear suspension is(was) almost entirely BMW, adapted Z-link IIRC. i for one will reserve judgement until i see and drive one.
<blockquote>indeed, gabe, but the rear suspension is(was) almost entirely BMW, adapted Z-link IIRC. i for one will reserve judgement until i see and drive one.</blockquote>
What makes you think that’s changing 🙂
did i say i thought that? 🙂 i said i hope the outsourcing of engineering doesn’t dilute the handling – that it was a possibility – but also that i’m going to wait till i take one for a spin.
I guess I’m not clear what your saying.
<blockquote>But Italdesign is handling all other development — including developmental engineering of the body, structure and chassis — and parts validation</blockquote>
from the article. it sounds like BMW has removed themselves from the development of the new MINI, Body, Chassis etc… leaving only the powertrain for BMW, which we know was developed in cooperation with PSA.
also
<blockquote>Italdesign is subcontracting some parts of the engineering that it cannot handle by itself, such as road testing.</blockquote>
this gives me some pause and legitimate reason for concern. however, BMW being known for it’s products dynamics, it’s very unlikely a sub-par MINI will be released.
but to repeat myself the 3rd time – i will reserve judgement until i drive the final product.
<sarcasm>Matt… I think you should reserve judgement unti you drive the final product.</sarcasm>
Seriously though there are lots of parts that have to come together to create a car. There’s no mention of suspension work nor of performance figures which BMW has undoubtedly given Italdesign. With BMW overseeing eveything (not to mention engineering the drivetrain this time) I have little doubt this will be a great car.
I’m a little confused. I thought the next-gen MINI was designed and being produced in limited quantities alongside the current generation. Is this article revealing what has already been done or what will be?
The rumors of the demise of the IRS have been circulating for a while, but they’ve never been backed up here so I don’t give them much credit.
Can you confirm that it’s not going away?
I remember when the news of the 07+ being designed to be more “profitable” that one of the first things mentioned to go was that bit of Z-link magic.
<blockquote>I’m a little confused. I thought the next-gen MINI was designed and being produced in limited quantities alongside the current generation. Is this article revealing what has already been done or what will be?</blockquote>
Yes a small number of prototypes have already been produced by the Oxford Plant as we mentioned a few months back.
re: eto’s question:
Especially since rumors have been floating around for a while I get the impression that this is something that has been happening for some time. This seems to be more of a “cat’s out of the bag” -type article.
I’m thinking few less Starbucks. But then it may be the 30something thing going on.
Just to clarify my handling dilution comment above… I wasn’t associating this with Italdesign’s involvement or anything else in the article, simply stating my guess that the new car is likley to be more mainstream in it’s dynamics.
The current Mini is a real outlier among it’s peers in a number of ways, paticularly it’s relatively stiff suspension and very quick steering ratio. We know we’re losing the distinctively raw supercharged mill to a smoother and more commonplace turbo. I’m just guessing that we might lose a little “edge” in a few more areas as well. Of course I hope this isn’t the case…
funny, italdesign is italengineering.
But Italdesign is handling all other development — including developmental engineering of the body, structure and chassis — and parts validation.
So we move from a German-British-American-Brazilian supercharged blend to a German-British-Italian-French turbocharged blend. However you look at it, the times are changin’. I’ll resereve judgement, but I’m glad I have the last of the mohicans sitting in my driveway.
me too.
though the thought of a car with now all three of my hereditary components in it’s breeding does get me thinking more positively.
this firm has quite a record: <a href="http://www.italdesign.com/dinamic/index.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.italdesign.com/dinamic/index.html</a>
So this will be the REAL “Italian Job”…
I had to say it.
-alpinamike
<a href="http://www.italdesign.it/dinamic/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.italdesign.it</a>
<a href="http://www.italdesign.it/dinamic/gallery/home.php" rel="nofollow">and their gallery</a>
they designed a new Ferrari that is pretty interesting. It is a four seater for one and has a fuel capacity of 132 gallons (if my math is correct 500 liters)
the Ferrari GG 50 that was debuted at the tokyo auto show. Look under web special.
“I’m glad I have the last of the mohicans sitting in my driveway.”
DITTO!
Isn’t Stephenson with Ferrari now. . .
BMC and Italians aren’t new. Italy had a model Mini made by Innocenti. The old Austin A40 of the late 60’s was designed and called an A40 Farina – of Pinninfarina. Didn’t some Italian company design the Convertible roof?
perhaps another sign for a fundamental change at bmw from a high development engineering company to a simple marketing machine, based on the famous history of the make.
in the last years iam generally missing real innovations from bmw, most technical ideas come from suppliers or can be found at other brands earlier. the only real success IMO is the DESIGN of the 6er, on the sign dont talk about the 1er.
but there might be another reason too.
if u have a look a renault each time when they started in formula 1 production cars became less modern and lost even the basic state of art. when they left formula 1 the star of renault and nissan brightened – cars are now fine, production standards are real high and the design is innovative. now they are back in f1 – we will see what happens. but can we really imagine how far formula 1 is binding capacities at bmw and thus for the development by the real experts of a our small sports car ?
I just have to say this again… Do you guys have any idea of how much you sound like classic Mini owners in, say, 2000? 😉 “It isn’t a real Mini anymore!” Time will tell, but considering BMW delivered a great little car in sub-optimal circumstances the “first” time, I think they can probably do it again.
Eelke–so true. A lot of folks fear change. I remember back in the late 1940’s, our telephone # was 4 digits. You picked up the receiver and waited for an operator who said “number please”. No dial, no area code. Now –phones with no wires/takes pictures, e-mail, hands free, blue tooth. Yikes. I love change. For those younger, as you age, change might not be so threatening. Relax and enjoy the journey.There are physiologic changes occurring in you as you read this, if nothing else you are several seconds older. Nick
That’s deep, Nick.