Frank Stephenson, exterior designer of the first generation “new” MINI has stepped down from his post as design director at Alfa. While at the Fiat Group, Mr. Stephenson oversaw design on everything from the Maserati MC12 to the Ferrari 430 to the new Fiat 500. While at BMW he led lead the exterior design on the original BMW X5 and of course the R50 MINI One and MINI Cooper. Here’s an excerpt from an Automotive News article on the move:
>Stephenson confirmed to AutoWeek, Autmotive News Europe’s sister publication, that it was his decision to leave Alfa Romeo, but he did not want to comment on his reasons.
>”I have a few things I am looking at now, but I don’t want to go into them, but it’s something that I have instigated,” Stephenson said.
+ Alfa’s design chief steps down / Automotive News Europe
As always, we’d like to tip our cap to Mr. Stephenson. He’s not only forever tied to the resurgence of the MINI brand but he’s also been a supporter of MotoringFile for over five years now. We’ll be anxious to see where in the automotive world he lands.
back to the future i say! i hope he takes bangle’s place and does the next gen mini. the r56 just leaves me gagging….
>back to the future i say! i hope he takes bangle’s place
Just an FYI – Bangle oversaw the design direction of the R50/R53 MINIs as he has with all MINIs.
It would be kool if “Gabe” could get an interview with the man.
Still mit der “Bangle” crap… get a life. LOL
Stephenson truly “gets it” when it comes to automotive design. From exotic to ordinary transportation, his work shows a clarity few other designers exhibit today.
Plus, how can you not appreciate someone stuffing beer cans on the end of tailpipes as a finishing touch on a prototype about to be shown to corporate?!
Good Luck Frank.
I believe that he already has something cooked up. If not, with his resume, he will have no problem landing anywhere he wants.
Mr. Stephenson is hands down one the very best automotive designers and creative thinkers for quite a while in the automotive industry. I lay a large portion of Mini’s direct success at his feet, one fell swoop he created something that was unique but with a historical pedigree. I personally cannot wait to see where Frank goes next to share his talents.
<—-Praying
Please go back to MINI. Please go back to MINI.
I’m thinking Ford, Chevy or Chrysler could use some help, big time. Maybe they could pay him the bonuses they give themselves.
I vote for Frank’s next project to be a new Lotus Elan that refers back to the original 60s design. (Please ignore the later FWD M100…) While the Elise is an absolutely amazing car to drive, it greatly pains the eyes.
<blockquote>Stephenson truly “gets it” when it comes to automotive design. From exotic to ordinary transportation, his work shows a clarity few other designers exhibit today.
Plus, how can you not appreciate someone stuffing beer cans on the end of tailpipes as a finishing touch on a prototype about to be shown to corporate?!</blockquote>
Ok, I have to comment on this. More than one Cooper S owner has misunderstood this story.
The Beer can, singular, story goes like this.
Frank Stephenson was designing the MINI Cooper. Not the Cooper S when lightning struck and he decided to cut a beer can and insert it as the tail pipe.
The S design came later and is similar but not the same.
He had simply overlooked the small detail of a tail pipe and added late one night.
Hey Rocco, where did the original poster ever mention an S when relating the story of the beer can? 🙂
I wish more designers had the knack and vision that Stephenson has shown. It would be great if he landed back at MINI but I doubt that he ever retraces his steps – probably enjoys new challenges.
Tata just bought Jaguar and Land Rover. Jaguar could use a design overhaul to rid themselves of the Ford years. We all love what Stephanson did with the MINI, and I dare say the Fiat 500…very well done as well. I would love to see what Stephenson would produce in a reinterpretation of the old Jaguar lines!
Aaron’s got a point there…. both Jaguar and Land Rover are in real need of a MINI-style rebirth after being Ford-ified for so long – and I could see this being just Stephanson’s cup of tea.
Ford, Chevy and Chrysler are way too much “design by committee” I would think, for someone of Stephanson’s stature and caliber.
I’m with Aaron, I sooooo hope he goes over to Jaguar and Land Rover as opposed to the big three!
I think the US firms need to look past whatever strategy they have as a failing one! Maybe they could dump some of the Harley Earl wannabes and try something different. Cadillac seems to have kicked the 1970’s why not the rest of them? Also maybe they could just make better cars?
Not saying that Euro designed cars are all wonderful for sure they have their clinkers also.
Also, I liked some of the Jaguars under the Ford reign. The GT’s not a bad car also.
Arguably, the MINI’s success almost single-handedly has changed US perceptions of small cars, and much of the success is due to the man-on-horseback Frank Stephenson’s design, along with BMW’s risky roll of the dice, and a quirky advertising campaign; other marques are jumping on the band-wagon as fuel prices soar, so a good case could be made for a major shift in society due to one man’s vision. Happens only when the circumstances are perfect, but he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time.
Attention BMW Munich!!! You MUST hire Mr. Stephenson back and give him free range over MINI styling again! Also it wouldn’t hurt to have him cast an eye to the BMW lineup also. Only good would come of this action.
One of the reasons Frank Stephenson cited for leaving BMW is that he felt that his talent was severely restricted there (Under Heir Bangle I believe this to be the case).
Bangle has been at BMW since the early 1990’s and he did oversee the R50 design work. However, his little dirty hands were not allowed to get near that project as the man himself was too busy in the indoctrination process of his “flame surfacing” mantra for the BMW lineup.
Sorry but I am not a Chris Bangle fan. Respect the man for who he is but I think that he is nothing more than a pompous run-of-the-mill car designer. Fortunately some of the flame surfacing and hunchback trunk lids re being toned down severely in newer models.
Gert Hildebrand is a gentleman. A great man. A visionary? no he is not. As good of a car designer as Frank Stephenson? Not in a million years.
The only way I see Frank ever coming back to MINI is either by him becoming the director or MINI design (Effectively demoting Hildebrand from the post) or becoming the design head for the BMW Group…. And you know that neither ain’t gonna happen.com
Good luck Frank. Every time I look at my R53 I am clearly reminded that this vehicle was created by a designer with relentless vision and passion. Two very rare commodities in this cut throat industry dominated by cookie cutter designers, bean counters, safety fear mongers and “me too” car designs.
It’d be nice if Stephenson would go back to Mini and work together with Gert Hildebrandt. My personal opinion is that the pinnacle of New Mini design lies with the product that’s the result of both their input; the ’05/’06 R50. Still, unlikely to happen, I suppose.
I have to wonder if he is more comfortable getting a new design identity going rather than making small changes as it evolves.
One of the main reasons why Frank Stephenson left BMW back in 2002, it was because he felt his design talent was being restricted by design groups and bean counters. I wish he would go back to head MINI design, but I doubt very much that will happen in the near future.
Gert Hildebrand is a great man and truly passionate about the brand. But Frank will always be a notch or two above Gert in my book.
Chris Bangle is nothing but a self-serving, pumpous excuse for a car designer. His “flame surfacing” diatribe has made him either one of the most loved or hated auto designers of all time. Newer Bimmers have the Bangle themed a lot more toned down and the car are much better looking without a doubt. But I still prefer the restrained, elegant and timeless look of BMWs prior to the Bangle era.
As long as Bangle’s little dirty hands are not allowed in the day-to-day design works of MINI, all should be fine. In fact, I believe that Mr. Bangle is no longer involved in day to day design decisions at BMW either.
The signature beer can exhaust was lost in the R56 redesign. I wish MINI had kept it.
Basically how the beer can came about is that Frank was preparing a full scale model of the R50 Cooper for a presentation before the BMW board of directors. The night before the meeting, Frank noticed that the model was missing the exhaust tip. According to him this was around 4 or 5 in the morning. Frank’s brain jumped in high gear and as one of his colleagues was drinking a beer a light bulb flashed in his mind…. He grabbed the emptied beer can and cut it in 2 sections. Then he cut the bottom of the can just leaving part of it and the bottom outer ring. He then placed it on the model and voila! Everyone in the room was impressed with the results. This is how the beer can exhaust was born.
The next morning, after the BMW board presentation had concluded, one of the BMW execs approached Frank and congratulated him on the model and the beer can exhaust. He also went on saying that he (Frank) must have spent countless hours to come up with such well tought out exhaust tip design. Frank looked at him, but he bit his tongue and smiled. Frank said that he felt so bad about the compliments because it took him less than 10 minutes to come up with the beer can exhaust.
If that is not a strike of genius, I don’t know what is. This is exactly why Frank is one of the top 10 designers in the world right now.
I was waiting for that, true to form.
Man, he doesn’t like to stay at one place for too long does he? I can’t wait to see where he goes next, and what he comes up with.
As much as I think he is the best thing that happened to MINI and all accolades to him for that, there does not seem to be much loyalty shown to past employers. Sometimes people think they are bigger than the brand / game etc.
Can a designer be the top dog of an automotive company?
Loyalty has nothing to do with it. Any brilliant designer is always looking for the next challenge. They are not the type of people who are “lifers” at a company.
More power to him. A true visionary.
Aurel – call me old fashioned, but if I took a punt on a young man fresh from design school in California, who was looking for a career with my company, I would expect him to rise through the ranks and show some loyalty as a payback.
The exception to Frank is Bangle who has stuck to BMW and managed to make all BMWs look the same and influenced other makes to follow suit.
Loyalty? Shouldn’t it be apply to your country, wife, church, tribe or home village or something? Should one show loyalty to one’s car company too? Are car companies “loyal” to their employees? Did BMW do Stephenson a favor by hiring him or was it the otherway around? Are Art Center graduates hurting for jobs as car designers?
The brand is as good as the sum of the people who make them, nobody is “bigger” or smaller than it. The only “game” is produce a good product for your customers – call me old fashioned.
Can the designer be the top dog of auto company? Can Monet be a good art dealer? Can Mozart run a music school?
Would not be suprised if he ends up in China or Korea.
Thanks to everybody for all the kind words. Like Gabe says, I’ll continue to be a MotoringFile fan and will always enjoy checking in! We’ll be in touch!