The MINI Core Concept
With the Paris Motor Show in full swing this week, MINI is debuting several new concepts. Turns out they’re not alone. Design student Neal Steinhoff from the Munich University of Applied Sciences has rendered his vision for what he thinks the next generation MINI should look like. He’s dubbed it the MINI “Core” and the family resemblance is undeniable. Before anybody gets too exercised over this, remember that it’s a student concept. Only time will tell if Munich and Oxford take notice. More photos after the break.
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<p>Brilliant! He should have no problem finding a job.</p>
<p>Well done – and for once the 3d actually looks better than the sketches.</p>
<p>From the side it’s pretty nice. From the front or back I’m not as impressed. That big oval grille area on the front just looks wrong and the lights in the rear don’t say “MINI”. But I have to agree that the designer definitely put some time in on this and has a good start on their career path.</p>
<p>While there are some elements I don’t care for, overall that’s a pretty nice package.</p>
<p>Its another sham like the r56. Thank good I bought an R53 (now thats a how a MINI should look like! not this monstosity!)</p>
<p>Some nice elements. The extension of the roof white to the bonnet is interesting, as is the grille. I really like the grille.
I don’t like the lowered roof and the increased angle of the windscreen and the boot– the price in interior space would be too high — besides, it’s an automotive cliche.</p>
<p>Although I see that much time was sped on this project to me it does not say MINI. Sure, it has some elements that look MINI but overall the project looks too much like a jellybean in it’s smoothness. Giving a car a white roof, wheels and mirrors is not enough to be a MINI, this looks like it could be the NEXT generation Nissan Murano or a similar vehicle, in shape at least.</p>
<p>The photography of the model is really convincing. It took me a second to realize it wasn’t a full-size car.</p>
<p>Nice work! I applaud the effort taken to this project!</p>
<p>The side photo (the first one in the article) is very impressive. I am not convinced with the rear end… it’s more like MINI 25-30 years from now. As in, very futuristic. I very much dislike the front.</p>
<p>But you can definitely tell that he is talented!</p>
<p>Those taillights remind me of that old Cadzilla custom car, LOL.</p>
<p>Decent effort overall. I really like the protruding shock tower detail.</p>
<p>Other than the front end I’d say pretty kool konsept. It’s a helluva lot better the the bloated next gen thing. Sleek but still very MINI. As far as the bum, I think it’s kinda nice but that front needs work, just finding no love for that look… though parts of it are very interesting. Love the rims.</p>
<p>Ugh. No thanks. Looks like alot of other crossovers on the market today. Hope MINI sticks to its iconic quirky style, rather than morph into just another look-alike.</p>
<p>Superb Rendering!</p>
<p>Front end – no thank you; back end – needs a bit of work; side profile – gorgeous!</p>
<p>Sorry, but I just don’t like it at all.</p>
<p>The front and rear seem anime-inspired to me…too cartoonish for my taste (baby horizontal tailfins!).</p>
<p>But the overall profile and proportions are gorgeous….I like the RWD-style cab-rearward stance, and the wheel arches and overall sculpting give the car a much leaner, more aggressive appearance. It’s actually quite jarring to look at this concept, then scroll up to see the current car in a banner ad….it looks positively obese in comparison.</p>
<p>I like.</p>
<p>Slap on some plates, I’ll take it as is. Love it.</p>
<p>Love the front, but not in white,,,if it were a jcw with cr roof and grill, it would be cool. The profile is great.</p>
<p>Amazing! What a great design, i just love it! Hope this draw someday arrive to our streets with an electric engine.Unfortunately, Bmw, like all the other brands as not the courage enough to put real electric vehicles on the roads before some oil billionaires can improve their gains a few more millions…</p>
<p>Reminds me very much of the ACV30 Mini.</p>
<p>B- Beat me to it. Yes that is a nice looking Nissan Murano.</p>
<p>The side profile’s rear arch is too Audi A1. It needs to be more defined and squared off. The front overhang is too long. And the rear lights are very bad. Fix those simple things and it’s a nice design. I like the rear strut towers being pushed way out making their own style element.</p>
<p>Also, BMW is quite courageous with electric vehicles. The MINI E test project, now the BMW Active E test project plus the full on commitment and building of the Megacity Vehicle are all clear evidence of this. Just because they want to do some engineering and testing before producing an electric car is no reason to have that attitude. Personally, I think electric vehicles require too many compromises, have durability issues, recyclability issues, range issues and cold weather issues. Give me a regular petrol car until hydrogen made from 100% renewable resources is available. Then we’ll have zero pollution and no need for cumbersome, hard to reuse & recycle battery packs. Plus, the oil billionaires will keep making their money by converting their oil into electricity for the grid. Simply building electric vehicles solves none of these complex problems.</p>
<p>It looks like a cat fish with it’s mouth open.</p>
<p>Please remember this is a rendering of a “Concept” vehicle. I am very impressed with the design. The best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Keep it Mini
Andrew
Mini Downtown</p>
<p>The side view is palatable. The rear needs to do something with the tail lights, maybe the high version as shown in one of the drawings. The front needs work, and what are they thinking with the strut and shock tower caps on the outside of the car, its ugly?</p>
<p>At first I thought it was a BMW SUV. But I see it has its wheels at the far corners, which is very MINI – That would allow it to corner very quickly, and I assume well under control.
The front grill is butt ugly, but the rear end has possibility. Give it the typical MINI interior, keep it a very small car like my ’08 MINI convertible, give it a working hood scoop, and give it a four cylinder engine, and I will probably look at it. Make it look a bit more like a MINI – But it has some nice elements.</p>
<p>Hot from the side, front and back need work.</p>
<p>What, are they going to start making them in Japan now ?</p>
<p>On the upside these MINI drivers will get more than twice the “waves” from guys and gals driving Nisaan, Honda and Toyota automobiles. lol.</p>
<p>I am intrigued with what the third gen Mini will look like as well in 2012 as what type of power it will get.</p>
<p>Hey Mini! How about 2500 lbs and 225hp JCW??? And a “retro” look vs the “modern” look.</p>
<p>Mini needs to really sharpen their pencil to bring back us R53 types. Had the R56 JCW and it just didn’t cut it they same way as my ’05 JCW.</p>
<p>OH no! Did I just start something?</p>
<p>I like it!!! I could do without the strut caps, however. I just don’t like my cars to be lumpy. Other than that, Very Cool…</p>
<p>Horrible, horrible, terrible, awful, bad, gross. And boring.</p>
<p>The lack of suspension really makes this gorgeous.</p>
<p>Love it. Mini should hire this guy! Some minor refinement by Mini to the tail lights, grill and slope of the windshield and I will buy it (I am not interested in other recent Mini offerings). Even better if electric. Electric cars cause less pollution (including mining minerals for the recyclable batteries), can work fine in cold weather where most people live, should be far more reliable and soon will have much greater range. Neat idea to allow longer shock travel without bloating the sheet metal or making suspension compromises!</p>
<p>@Blackballed
I am with you, I love my “old” car also. However while the path you describe would get me to buy a new Mini, I can also see a concept like this student project working for me. Basically, a car that is small, simple, sporty looking and very fun to drive is what I want. Lighter weight (smaller) is the way to go, just like the R53.</p>
<p>Now that I think about it. Basically, we are unhappy with the common trend to increase the size and weight of a car every time it is updated. Example is, I used to think the 3 series BMW was too small (headroom) but now it is way to big (length and width and weight) so now the 1 series is more desirable, yet even it could be lighter…</p>
<p>As with every other MINI design before the CORE, it also has a tendency to polarize all who look at it. Seems to be the mark of a successful MINI design!</p>
<p>Damn, I wish I had skills like this when I finished design school.</p>