MINI2 Exclusive: Your questions answered by the MINI design team!

[Paul]

Back in May 2001, MINI2 arranged an exclusive Q&A for our members with MINI designer Frank Stephenson, you may be interested in the results:

16th May 2001: Your questions answered by Frank Stephenson

Now, for 2006, we're offering you the exclusive chance to put your questions to Gert Hildebrand (head of MINI design) and his team, which they will attempt to answer not just in words, but pictures!

Please fire away with any DESIGN related questions only about the new second generation MINI, and we will try and pick from the most popular, and most interesting, questions and put ten to the design team at Munich to see what they can come up with.

Please keep this thread purely for questions you wish placed to the MINI design team and free from banter, which will be removed/cleaned up to make picking out the questions easier. Thanks.

Paul

[LMB]

Why did you extend the rear of the Mini?

[mcs_sjp]

Where do you get the inspiration for all of the unique design features that give the Mini its head turning looks?

[minigolf]

Was designing the new headlight cluster a welcome challenge, or would you have preferred to have left the lights mounted in the bonnet as per the old car? Do you believe there are any compromises with either solution?

[Hat]

why are so many of the exterior colours at the cold end of the spectrum - black, grey, blue? why not more lighter, fun shades which would complement the mini's character better?

[Juno]

Oh great! : -

What is the intended function for the switch blank, in the middle - just in front of the gear shift?

Are there any plans (/test mules) for an all wheel drive system?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

[Goonery]

Why does the wheel look so lost in the wheelarch now, anything less than 18" rims looks so wrong in that cave of an opening?

[deanquartermaine]

Why where the dials changed to much bigger and IMHO lower quality dials?

Why did MINI make the decision not to allow the easy fitting of aftermarket head units in the R56?

[Olly.]

What was the motivation behind removing the C pillar wrap around glass?

[Joema]

What was the thought process behind the design of the center console?

Any plans for a chrono package? If so, will it include a speedometer above the steering wheel like the prior model?

thanks.

[Haggi]

why was the mini made bigger imo its a mini after all and with the r50 being almost double the size of the classic

also regarding the design of the seats why have they lost the bucket esqe elemnt of the old ones

[AprilWhine]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hat (original)

why are so many of the exterior colours at the cold end of the spectrum - black, grey, blue? why not more lighter, fun shades which would complement the mini's character better?

Worth repeating.

Why so many exterior colors on the dark side? The MINI should have cheerful colors to match its personality.

[British SD]

What new concepts are the design team currently working on? convertible, JCW, 4 door traveller, sportster. How might they be different to the current new MINI?

[AidenL]

What was the thinking behind the front grille and the slightly puffer fish-like 'face' now exhibited ?

[MyNameIsEarl]

Why did you designed the interior favouring the GPS layout? And why don't we get markings on both MPH and KMH?! All other British cars do!

Why couldn't the front lights be more upright in a more mini-like fashion? Was the R56 inspired partly by Aston Martin?

Why do the rear lights need to be so big and surrounded by chrome?

Why did you remove the wrap around rear side windows? Especially considering the new ones still don't open.

What inspired you to design those plastic side indicator clusters?

Why change the way indicators operate?

What are the general plans for the 'mid-life facelift' and for the next generation mini? What should we expect?