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The MINI company has revealed how the new MINI model will look, though unlike most concept vehicles it is purely a digital model. It was unleashed as a 3d hologram at the MINI design centre in Munich, the Vision gives quite a few hints about where the new MINI model is going, according to Adrian Van Hooydonk, BMW's Group design director.
Undisguised spy shots of the MINI hatchback were revealed across the internet, which is set to be released at the LA and Tokyo motor shows in November this year. These images have stole the concept's thunder in some ways, though there are still a few intriguing design details on the concept that will make it to production.
The most striking feature about the concept is the new grille, which according to MINI boss Anders Warming, reverts back to where we came from. It is a much simpler design with fog lights and an integrated bumper, which is reminiscent of the original MINI. The new headlights keep the round classic design, though are surrounded by an LED frame, a cue that was first seen on the MINI Rocketman concept.
Van Hooydonk said that the Rocketman was the first embodiment of the new design language for MINI, He went on to say that it was a research projct that got the entire team extremely excited and the concept is the next step on.
The classic floating roof silhouette and the short overhangs are maintained, though plastic cladding that is rather striking and is referred to by the MINI design team as spats, runs all around the base of the windscreen and down to the wheelarches of the car.
At the back of the car, larger vertical tail lights are cut into the boot lid of the car, with sharp lines coming out of them, which is a rather big contrast to the clean surfaces of the current vehicle.
Twin tailpipes and a stepped real spoiler hint at how the sportier MINI models in the range are going to look. There are a number of changes on the inside of the car aswell, including new functionality for the central speedo, which is now capable of showing an analogue style speedometr, or other parameters in a 3d more futuristic layout. There is just three dials below that which makes the interior a lot less cluttered than the current car. There is also a party piece, hitting the sport button next to the gearshift switches every display from blue to red to signify the exhaust, throttle and steering are all in their sportiest settings.
As for the interior of the package, you will get a little more space on the inside. Van Hooydonk explained that with a MINI, it is all about the minimum footprint on the road with the maximum space on the interior. He went on to say that he believes it will be the smallest car in it's class.