MINI Rocketman Exclusively Previewed at Milan Fashion Week
Perhaps it’s a bit unexpected for MINI to rollout the Rocketman at a fashion event before Geneva. But it did give us the chance to see the Rocketman ‘in the flesh’ for the first time. Pictures (even these) don’t quite do the car justice. There’s a full gallery after the break.
Official Release: In the company of an exclusive line-up of guests and a host of friends, MINI celebrated the global premiere of the new MINI Rocketman Concept against the backdrop of Milan Fashion Week. With more than 300 guests of honour from the international fashion and design world attending, MINI held its celebratory event at the Istituto Europeo di Design, one of Europe’s most prestigious design schools with a focus on automotive and product design. The debut of the MINI Rocketman Concept was stage-managed by London-based film artist, photographer and director Marcus Tomlinson. Model and actress Lily Cole was in Milan at the time and appeared in Tomlinson’s art film, which was shown at the event.
Full Gallery
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The MINI Rocketman Concept was jointly presented by Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design, and the new Head of MINI Design, Anders Warming.
Among the guests were fashion designers Massimo Piombo, Giorgiana Zappieri from the Normaluisa brand, gallerist Nicoló Cardi of Cardi Black Box, actor Beppe Fiorello, designer Barnaba Fornasetti, owner of historical design brand Fornasetti, along with other international celebrities including model and presenter Natalie Kriz.
Marcus Tomlinson and Lily Cole: an avant-garde staging of the MINI Rocketman Concept.
The art film produced by Marcus Tomlinson delighted the audience with its expressive imagery and the ethereal presence of Lily Cole. The focus of Tomlinson’s avant-garde production was the theme of light and motion, creating a stimulating interplay of feelings.
About Marcus Tomlinson.
Marcus Tomlinson is one of today’s most sought-after photographers and directors in the field of fashion and art. The London artist earned his photographic reputation through his work for the leading lifestyle and design magazines. He has also designed fashion and art worlds for brands such as Gareth Pugh, Hussein Chalayan, Issey Miyake and Hermès. In his films Tomlinson combines the themes of fashion, art and design to create visually powerful works.
About Lily Cole.
Lily Cole has been a fixture of the international fashion scene for years and is a familiar figure at fashion weeks in Milan, London and New York. She has carved out a solid niche on the catwalks of major, high-profile labels such as Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Hermès, Moschino, Anna Sui, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Louis Vuitton, Giles Deacon and Julien Macdonald. Lily Cole belongs to a new generation of models who embody a modern, futuristic look and thus fit in perfectly with the MINI Rocketman Concept.
Moving forward: the MINI Rocketman Concept.
This design study, which is aimed at young, urban individualists, raises the familiar MINI principle of creative use of space to a new level with its minimal exterior dimensions and maximum interior space. A vision for tomorrow’s mobility, the MINI Rocketman Concept is compelling as a 3+1-seater that boasts an innovative concept of space, futuristic materials, lifestyle-oriented connectivity, thrilling agility and avant-garde styling. Among the intriguing features of this study is an unusual lighting concept: in the dark, LED lights and fibre optics on the outside and inside ensure optimal illumination while creating a pleasantly indirect nighttime look.
The MINI Rocketman Concept will be unveiled to the global public at the Geneva International Motor Show in early March.
<p>Cool.</p>
<p>I’ve seen no comments on the tires. They seem narrow and have an interesting tread. Is that just a styling expression or is there something functional there?</p>
<p>I’m sorry, no offense to those who like this but really is it April 1st?</p>
<p>I saw that too Kevin, my guess would be low rolling resistance tires to increase the economy rating.</p>
<p>I like the concept in general, but I think the front end is too large and prominent in the design. It does look like something out of the cars movie. The original classic design did everything it could to minimize the front end, and didn’t make it ‘front and center’ like this design does. Perhaps in person it would have a different perspective, but these photos sure make it look like the front is really large and disproportionate to the rest of the car.</p>
<p>That models vacant stare disturbs me.</p>
<p>As for the car I guess it has soem cool ideas. Really don’t understand the rationale for the 3 plus one seating.</p>
<p>Adrian van Hooydonk’s suit looks crazy. Can I have that fabric on seats?</p>
<p>What a total waste of 3 minutes of many peoples lives! Gak!</p>
<p>For the concept car, I like the smooth hood (always hated the “power bulge” on the later hoods) but the rear light, the cartoonish fenders, and the front grill that screams to me “Mouth of a trout with braces” just don’t seem to work for me.</p>
<p>All the lighting on the interior doesn’t float my boat either. but then, on our 08 clubman, sure changing the accect lighting shade is neat, but I wish there were an “off” setting!</p>
<p>Overall, I give the “art film” a rating just slightly above the Superbowl add.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>An intriguing piece that has successfully resonated with fashion designer/cognoscenti sensibilities. Obviously such an extreme MINI design mirrors fashion cues that designers create for show and not the showroom. I think Rocketman concept should be viewed in a similar context, and not taken seriously. Hopefully, such a cartoonesque MINI will never occupy retail showroom space. Obviously, as a design exercise there is much to be derived from its bizarre extravagance. The hatch and door articulation, build materials, scale, etc. Let’s rename it the MINI FS — Fashionista Speed!</p>
<p>Speaking of marketing fuel for the MINI FS nee Rocketman … may I suggest Dreamworks or Hanna Barbera animation with Bieber as pilot. Too bad this cutesy MINI didn’t debut at The Grammys last week … There ‘s always the next Vegas “Trekkies” convention and the inaugural 2012 Mayan Calendar SEMA Show for UFOs.</p>
<p>The tires are very narrow – not the typical concept car thing with tires much wider than is ever offered on the production cars.</p>
<p>What is the deal with those – some kind of low rolling resistance tire?</p>
<p>Does this spell the death of the 7inch wide wheel? Most of those experimental electric and fuel efficient cars have almost bicycle size wheels.
@lavardera – I agree, Its all about rolling resistance.</p>
<p>Was the Theme song “I’m too sexy for my car”, New York and Japan!</p>
<p>@Cheswick – at the risk of being un-PC, aren’t all top models vacant spaces, waiting for a developer and a Donald Trump type figure to come along?</p>
<p>@Jay – that suit, obviously a Milan-produced number, probably cost more than the GDP of a 3rd world country.</p>
<p>This car looks better when seen with people next to it for scale. Nice & small, like a Mini should be.</p>
<p>Want…</p>
<p>…Lily Cole</p>
<p>You’re trying to tell me there was a car in those pictures?</p>
<p>But seriously, Lily Cole does fit the Rocketman. They both have “interesting” chins. Not a fan of the rear lights, and the front almost reminds me of a Miata.</p>
<p>Call me crazy, but I think the 2011 MCS refresh will always hold a special place in my heart, and the twins are ugly.</p>
<p>It’s smiling at me.</p>
<p>Looked like they tried to bring the alert looking front end back a la the R50, but this version is freaky looking. The double-pivoting hinges are intriguing. For how small my R53 is, it’s hard to get the doors fully open in a parking lot. The big hinges might make that easier.</p>
<p>They did a great job on the basic shape of the car, but the details – like the taillights – just don’t work for me.</p>
<p>The doors are interesting. I’d like to try them to see if they are an improvement over the normal doors. They look like they are more vulnerable to damage, and might be harder to keep aligned.</p>
<p>I like the whole thing (except for the chin); I even like the taillights</p>
<p>Yes, the suit is flashy, hopefully they wont upstage the MINI.</p>
<p>My guess its the cost of a JCW upgrade. My guess its a Mens Prada Line.</p>
<p>@Kevin – in a vehicle that is supposed to get 90+mpIg (~78 mpg US) you are going to have narrow tires.</p>
<p>I think it is a happy little car with a nice smile on it’s face. The double hinged doors would be great in a parking lot. Much easier to open wide enough to get in and out without having to swing the great long doors we have now. The over the top “angel eyes” are definitely interesting.</p>
<p>We’ve seen the double hinge doors before on another concept MINI, too bad they haven’t made it into production.</p>
<p>I noticed that they have chosen a tall model, and placed her in 6″ platforms, to make the car look smaller.</p>
<p>We’ll just have to wait and see where this all goes. Could be right into the scrap heap.</p>