MINI Design Chief Talks about the R56
GoAuto spent some time with Gert Hildebrand on the 2007 MINI and how the MINI design team went about creating the follow-up to the R50. It’s a fantastic article for anyone interested in automotive design and the MINI’s design evolution. Here’s an excerpt:
>Mr Hildebrand and his team were not given “… any concrete orders” or directives from BMW as far as the R56’s design outcome was concerned.
>However, he did not want to stamp his personality or ego on the car at all — quite the contrary, his major concern was to preserve the very essence of what the Mini stood for.
>”This is not my design,” he told GoAuto, describing his role as a sort of torchbearer for the original. As a result, Mr Hildebrand jokes, the hardest part of the job had already been done for him. The new Mini ended up being the work of stylist Marcus Syring, under Mr Hildebrand’s direction.
>The design chief was wary of the fine line between preserving the classic Mini looks and proportions, while making it fresh enough for people to update to. “People want to see evolution (in design),” Mr Hildebrand said.
One of the more interesting quotes comes towards the end of the article:
>So what does the outgoing R50 Mini’s designer, Frank Stephenson (now head of Fiat Design) think of the new model? “At the Paris show Frank went up to me and said: “What have you done to my headlights! “But, jokes aside, he said he loved it,” Mr Hildebrand said.
Certainly one of the better into the MINI design department we at MotoringFile have read. You can read more below:
[ New Mini a visual icon like Porsche 911 ] GoAuto
I’ve been waiting to see what Frank Stephenson’s thoughts on the R56 were. I know it’s unlikely, but I’d love to see him do a design analysis like you have done Gabe.
great article indeed.
i love the design sketches in the article and in the MF post. my new wallpaper.
Mr. Hildebrand, I don’t believe Frank was joking.
I would love to hear Frank’s opinion from his own mouth.
Frank was just a “torch bearer” too.
I want to hear what Issingonis would say. Oh, wait, he’s dead.
What a mess. Mr. Hildebrand’s next project is to put arms on the Venus de Milo.
The 911 has aged gracefully and that is an appropriate model for the new MINI. The orginial Mini inspired but did not start the MINI icon. Therefore the original MINI work will be the support of all future efforts. The car must change to remain viable in the marketplace. Intended or not, believed or not, the R56 changes are sign of the respect BMW and it’s design team has for the original MINI design. If the MINI was Frank’s child, the R56s are his grandchildren. How could you not love your grand kids? (Especially since if they do turn out to be poorly received you can blame the parents!)
If the 911 heritage is the icon and the model for future MINI variants – there may be hope – after 7 years the 1999 – 2005 “fried egg” 911 headlamps are finally gone – perhaps automotive enthusiasts can only handle one bad headlamp design at a time.
In my opinion, I do think Frank would be upset with the new headlamp design because for me they now look dumbed down and fish-like because not pointing straight ahead and also are now much less integrated because of the not bonnet mounted solution, which I do not understand because I have not had or heard of alignment problems with Frank’s much cleaner and modern design. I would like to here his opinion of rear side glass now in 2 pieces and what does he find on R56 that he feels is better then on R50, excluding engine and driving dynamics. Would be very interesting to read I am sure! I also think that his work on the future Fiat 500 will show his new ideas on how to successfully advance iconic small car design.
<blockquote>the R56 changes are sign of the respect BMW and it’s design team has for the original MINI design.</blockquote>
Sorry, that’s wrong. “Tweaking” a design (especially primarily in the name of cost-cutting and meeting safety regs) shows you have no respect for it. Starting with a clean sheet of paper and presenting a NEW design recognizes previous greatness and enables the possibility of advancing the art. Of course, that’s more expensive and risky. It <em>could</em> be an expensive flop, but at least you have the chance of doing something interesting; unlike what’s been done here.
<blockquote>The headlight shape and size proved controversial within the department, as did the application of the black band around the wheel arches, a move necessitated by the use of smaller wheels on the base models to improve that model’s appearance.</blockquote>
Funny, Those are some of the biggest controversies here at MF.
Sign me up for the “What have you done to my headlights!” group.
What are those hideous sketches on the GoAuto article page..? They look like a schoolboy version of a body-kitted MINI. Please tell me they’re GoAuto’s own work and not the real design sketches like those on this page..!
I can imagine that the design team’s already start work on the new facelift after seeing our remarks and use it as guiding for input. Maybe we can start a list of designed things we like to see improved on refreshed R56. For me I would surely say:
1. Fake hood scoop on “S”
2. Crazy headlight
3. Big fake side vent
4. 2 part rear side glass
5. Big fake plastic mesh piece in rear bumper
6. Middle leg on spoiler
7. Chaos center instrument and console
<blockquote>black band around the wheel arches, a move necessitated by the use of smaller wheels on the base models to improve that model’s appearance</blockquote>
I wondered about this. What do they mean, smaller wheels? The smallest wheels available are still 15″, right? Unless they changed the circumverence.