How much can you leave out so that something still remains a well-rounded affair? Where do you have to start so that something still runs smoothly even if a little corner has been cut out beforehand? When are a few rough edges necessary to give something more charisma? All these questions and many more were discussed during the development of the new MINI design language »Charismatic Simplicity«. It is now being used in the interior design of the new MINI Cooper Electric for the first time. In an interview with Chapter, Oliver Heilmer, Head of Design at MINI, explained the meaning of the adjective »charismatic« for the brand as follows: »What I like about the term »charismatic« is that it is not judgmental in an aesthetic sense. Many people have an extreme amount of charisma through quite a lot of elements, and in this it is least of all the appearance, interestingly enough, it is rather the way one speaks, the way someone behaves. And that, we believe, is just as much more important to MINI.«

»Reduction without renunciation« – that’s how the new MINI design philosophy can be summed up in a nutshell, and it was first unveiled with the presentation of the MINI Concept Aceman, which already points the way forward for the new design language. Attention is focused on the essentials, allowing the essence – or rather: the charisma, the character – of the brand to come across more effectively. In order to implement the latter in the interior as well, the design team led by Oliver Heilmer focused on all the »round things« – both literally and metaphorically – that have always distinguished the brand: the steering wheel and the central instrument typical of the brand. In addition, the toggle switch bar has also been brought more into focus. The clever combination of traditional and brand-historically relevant design features with the latest digital technology is intended to ensure immersive driving experiences in the new MINI Cooper Electric in the future.

On a design level, bridges have been built to the classic MINI from 1959, but the new MINI Cooper Electric is equipped with a significantly smaller, as well as sportier steering wheel. The brand-typical central instrument retains its original position and, as a circular OLED display with touch function, becomes the digital interface between the human and the vehicle. The characteristic toggle switches also provide a classic, analog operating experience in the new all-electric MINI Cooper .

Creative scope

Reducing the interior design to the essentials created additional creative scope, which the MINI designers were able to use to develop new digital effects and intensify the interaction between driver and car. Among other things, with a newly developed welcome mode, with which the MINI Cooper Electric will greet its passengers in the future. A carefully coordinated interplay of light and sound, an animation on the round OLED display and a colorful projection is designed to create an immersive user experience that begins when the driver enters the car and continues throughout the journey. In this way, MINI aims to make an even more personal driving experience possible.

New worlds of sound

Since the individual character of a vehicle is conveyed not only through its look and feel, but also through its soundscape, MINI has also been busy in recent years giving the MINI Cooper Electric a suitable sound garb. »The new sounds are an elementary part of the digital experience and individually tailored to the character of the new models. They make an emotional contribution to passengers in the interior and shape acoustic perception in the exterior world. This also creates unmistakable, typical MINI recognition features at the acoustic level«, Oliver Heilmer explains.

A total of four driving sounds are available. These are designed not only to provide the driver with acoustic feedback on the acceleration process, but also to help emotionalize the driving experience. The driving sound »Core« is the only sound that can be perceived not only inside the vehicle but also outside as acoustic pedestrian protection. »Go Kart« is a driving sound for sporty driving, characterized by strongly pronounced pitch and load curves. Tradition and progress are combined in the MINI »Timeless« driving sound. Engine sounds of conventionally powered models from the classic Mini to the MINI John Cooper Works GP  were sampled and combined with a futuristic interpretation of the MINI »Core« driving sound to create an acoustic journey through time. The fourth sound world called »Balance« is based on those sounds that can be perceived in forests at different times of day and night.

Does everything sound like a pretty well-rounded affair? True. But one with a big dose of charisma. [SW]

]]> https://chapter.digital/en/new-minimalism/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 11:48:59 +0000 https://chapter.digital/new-minimalism/ Like hardly any other manufacturer, MINI knows how to keep its finger on the pulse of times through constant transformation without, however, throwing its own history and tradition overboard. On its way to becoming an all-electric brand, MINI is now presenting two of its most important models in a new, pared-down design language that is more digitalized and customizable than ever.

Nothing less than a »reinvention of the original« has been announced by MINI in recent months – with the Concept Aceman concept car presented in July 2022, there was already a first glimpse of the future design language, the immersive digital experience and the new material concept that will shape all future model generations. On September 01 2023, the time had come and MINI presented its first two members of the new model family in the run-up to the IAA: the new all-electric MINI Cooper and the equally new MINI Countryman.

Both vehicles are united by the now electrified, but still brand-typical go-kart driving experience, comprehensive digitalization and the completely revised modern design, which aims to focus on the essentials. at MINI, »Charismatic Simplicity« is the name given to this new, very reduced design language, which repeatedly borrows from the original MINI by Alec Issigonis. It thus combines the traditional values of MINI with forward-looking innovations and the »MINImalistic« design approach.

Short overhangs as well as a long wheelbase and large wheels: the proportions of the new MINI Cooper and the Countryman – which is also significantly taller and longer than its predecessor – are more »typically MINI« than ever. The visual division into three parts in the vehicle body, the all-round window area and the contrasting roof also underscore the desire for the design to return to the traditional core values of MINI. Flush door handles, the absence of fender flares and side scuttles also emphasize the clear and modern overall impression. The defined shoulder area gives the new MINI models a decidedly athletic vehicle body.

Inside, the front-end design cites the minimalist design of the Classic Mini with a sleek and spacious dashboard. The central OLED display aims to set new standards with its particularly precise display – thanks to its high resolution – and contributes to the increased presence of the round instrument. The newly designed and equally reduced toggle bar with five switches is located directly below it, one of the few analog relics in the otherwise largely digitalized new model family.

Up to seven »Experience Modes« bring the interior to life optionally. Special light projections then extend the colors of the circular instrument across the entire dashboard, extending the overall experience of the user interface into the interior, while new customization options give customers the opportunity to add their own personal touch to the vehicle design.

The textile surfaces dominate the overall impression of the interior. A specially developed knitting process creates a special structure of the two-tone textile design, which, like the yarns for the seat, knitted surfaces, vehicle headliner and floor, comes from recycled materials. In this way, the new MINI family also clearly wants to signal the brand’s responsible attitude and shows that an innovative sustainable material concept and an emission-free drive are in no way at odds with comfort and premium mobility. Sir Alec Issigonis, known to be a visionary when it comes to resource conservation and energy efficiency in harmony with the greatest possible driving pleasure, would probably be quite pleased and might even have implemented the current reinvention of the original in exactly the same way. [RED]