White Roof Radio Interview: MINI Design (Gert Hildebrand & Marcus Syring)
Here it is, the one you’ve been waiting for. We had a chance to speak to the MINI Design team this past Monday at the Detroit Auto Show and touched on everything from the R60 to the Beachcomber to the forthcoming Roadster and Coupé. It’s definitely the highlight of our interviews and is incredibly insightful.
White Roof Radio Interview: Gert Hildebrand, Marcus Syring and Oliver Sieghart
[audio:http://www.whiteroofradio.com/podcasts/NAIAS3.mp3]
<p>I would like to thank Mr. Hildebrand, Mr. Syring, and Mr. Oliver (Sorry I didn’t catch your last name) for your valued time. This interview was really fun and insightful. I enjoyed hearing what you all had to say about everything you discussed. I look forward to seeing more of your innovation in four wheeled form. I cannot wait to work at NAIAS NYC at the MINI Booth this year. It’s gonna be a blast with all of the new stuff going on this year. Good job to Gabe and Todd for getting the real scoop everyday all day!</p>
<p>How about a Five cup-holder Train for the center rail for all the people that complain about the cup holders from 04′ on. lol. I think you can think of them as train tracks. Oh course make them fit the big gulp. lol
Do I get a book for that?</p>
<p>Great interview and nice to hear from Design.</p>
<p>So, I’m starting to feel a bit guilty for dumping… On the Speedster/Coopster, how about some questions about where it will be slotted in terms of pricing and what they estimate that means in terms of unit volume?</p>
<p>And good job on the question about the Coopster roof! Interesting comment on the Gen 1 Speedster… Too bad it didn’t come out then.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Thanks, Gentlemen, for some real information!</p>
<p>The Coopster’s doorway is 60mm shorter than the coupe’s? Hmmm….. Let the diet and exercises begin!</p>
<p>Now, as to price….</p>
<p>at the 9:45 mark; gabe asks if the interior is production or concept and gert responds by tapping something and saying “this is already a production piece.” what was he touching…?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>at the 9:45 mark; gabe asks if the interior is production or concept and gert responds by tapping something and saying “this is already a production piece.†what was he touching…?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The video is coming! But to answer your question he was tapping the dash.</p>
<p>haha, sorry, i didn’t know we were getting video interviews! i will go back to patiently waiting.</p>
<p>thanks again for all the footwork.</p>
<p>One of my favorite interviews to date.</p>
<p>Almost sorry to say still no love for SUVs and Mini but I can hear why they thought about the R60. Still I would argue that the R60 brings anything new to the market, there are already smaller awd 4 door vehicles out there. A micro SUV has been done before also. While parts of the design may be unique the formula is boring and old.</p>
<p>Gabe – Thank you very much for asking “in the future, will we see a more mini MINI?” The MINI Design Team’s enthusiastic answer and pointed comment about demographic changes (i.e., fuel costs, eco-frugality) suggests some interesting models ahead – POSSIBLY even smaller models (I am choosing to interpret it that way, since that’s what I’d like to hear!). :)</p>
<p>Any idea on what the book he’s holding is??</p>
<blockquote><p>Any idea on what the book he’s holding is??</p></blockquote>
<p>Yes – big news on that next week (along with a way to win your own very special copy).</p>
<p>It’s the MINI Design book. An expansive look at the MINI brand in design terms from the very beginning right up to the Coupe and Roadster.
Every single variant is covered even down to the different series of “Clubman” Concept Cars and of course the MINI Crossover Concept and the MINI Coupe and Roadster Concepts. It’s available in Germany I do not know if the book has been translated to English yet.
There is a similiar book on the BMW 5er Gran Turismo which covers every aspect of that car from the idea , the design , creating the perfect environment engineering , The Concept Car and marketing. The recently produced 3 part series is highlights but you get to see how the initial car started out.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for MINI news on the eighteenth.</p>
<p>Is the Rail Idea Competition already on ?</p>
<p>My Idea would be a clip on LCD Picture Frame Unit, which is able to connect with my DSLR (maybe thru Wifi). I want to load photos from my DSLR to the Picture Frame Unit instantly after a party or snowboard trip.</p>
<p>If you need sketches for better illustrations, just contact me :-D.</p>
<p>This would benefit from video!</p>
<p>Can’t wait to buy a copy of the Mini design book, if for no other reason than to pull SUVs out of the book to burn on the effigy for the loss of Mini’s history in becoming just another builder of SUVs.</p>
<p>I feel much better about the Coupe roof after hearing about it as a design solution to a given range of criteria. And I’m really looking forward to seeing the car’s form in a range of different colors as well.</p>
<p>When can we get some book previews showing those coupe design sketches?</p>
<p>Next couple of days…</p>