Reminder: Design Your Own MINI Rail Accessory & Win an Autographed MINI Design Book
A quick reminder for all those readers who might have missed our design contest launched in conjunction with the internet debut of the MINI Countryman. The idea is simple, design your own accessory that fits on the Countryman’s new interior rail system. We’ll send the best ideas over to Munich and the MINI Design team will pick their favorite. The winner gets an ultra-exclusive copy of the new MINI Design book autographed by MINI Design head Gert Hildebrand.
So to recap, here’s how it works:
1. Come up with the idea.
2. Post your idea in the comment section in our original post or below (a sketch or even a Youtube video of you explaining or even a very detailed description it of course will help.
3. On February 22nd we’ll send the ideas to the MINI Design team and they’ll pick the winner.
Of course really the best part? If it’s a good enough idea, you may even see it end up in a MINI someday.
Need a refresher on the rail system? With the MINI rail you can add and subtract different components depending on your needs. Want an armrest? Easy, snap it in and position where needed. Need an iPhone holder? MINI will surely have that covered. What about different devices? Again the beauty of the system is that MINI can offer a array of options depending on what you need. They even see the aftermarket stepping in and offering all sorts of accessories for things we can’t even imagine. But for more information on it straight from the people that know best, watch the video above where Gert Hildebrand (Head of MINI Design) talks about the concept behind the rail.
You can see a few excerpts of the book below.
<p>Another possible idea – how about a hands-free speakerphone console unit with bluetooth connectivity and a fold-out, fold down or slide-out “chatboard” (mini keyboard) which is cabled, or preferably wireless – with a wireless model having rechargeable batteries & recharge capability)- which enables the rear occupant(s) to type & send SMS, Multimedia, Instant Messages & other messages?</p>
<p>By using wireless communications, it can have a position for seating the user’s mobile phone for sending & receiving messages.</p>
<p>Power can be provided from a 12 Volt DC cigarette lighter power outlet located on the floor within the rail unit between the rear seats (for the rear two seat model), or on the rear centre area between the rear footwells (again between the rails) for a possible 2.5 or 3 rear seat unit.</p>
<p>Looks like there is enough room between the rear seats to slip two snowboards between them. Design some sort of “U” shaped clamping device to securly hold the boards so we don’t have to fold back one of the seats thus loosing passenger space.</p>
<p>just testing image posting again</p>
<p></p>
<p>Mark-down code for images does not seem to work.</p>
<p>Now trying BB code</p>
<p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4370118189_90b075f9e8.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4370118189_90b075f9e8.jpg</a></p>
<p>Ok – that did not work and I did not really expect it to, but somehow it converted the BB code to a link. Strange.</p>
<p>Now trying straight html:</p>
<p></p>
<p>Nope – that does not work either.</p>
<p>I tried a couple of times to post an image of my rail accessory design in the original post, but for some reason it won’t work. Sorry about all the chatter here.</p>