Munich. How do you reinvent a design legend without
losing its character? This question is explored in the new video,
“From the Original to the Original – 25 Years of MINI Design”,
available now on the BMW Group YouTube channel. The video tells the
story of one of the most remarkable design journeys in the automotive
industry: the evolution from the Classic Mini to the MINI produced by
the BMW Group.
“The Mini remained virtually unchanged for 40 years. It was our task
as designers to preserve its soul, while leading it into a new era –
not as a copy, but as the new MINI with all the signature MINI
characteristics,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.
What the video reveals.
The video showcases design sketches, key decisions and personal
insights. It features Adrian van Hooydonk and Holger Hampf, Head of
MINI Design, as they explain why MINI is more than just a car: It is a
lovable companion that combines functionality, driving fun,
individuality and a cheeky charm. The fact that fans today also miss
“typically MINI” elements introduced since 2001 illustrates how
strongly the brand has developed its own reference points at the BMW Group.
“MINI has created its own icons over the years. This work is never
finished – we must continue to carry it forward,” says Hampf.
Why this design legacy still matters today.
Over the decades, MINI has succeeded in transforming a strong
idea into a distinctive brand that people love and with which they
form an emotional connection. When Sir Alec Issigonis created the
Classic Mini back in 1959, the focus was on optimum use of space,
compact proportions, short overhangs, direct driving fun and a
likeably cheeky character. Under the umbrella of the BMW Group from
2001 onwards, MINI did not become a retro product, but a new original:
immediately recognisable, yet reinterpreted for a new era through
technology, design and culture.
From design competition to a new icon.
Following its acquisition of Rover in 1994, the BMW Group faced a
key question: How could the essence of the classic Mini be preserved,
while giving it a new form? Designers at BMW and Rover explored a
range of answers: from a consistent continuation of the original idea
to a sporty, premium-oriented reinterpretation. That is how MINI
evolved from a clever compact car into a style icon – with an
emotionally engaging design and a strong personality.
What makes MINI Design unique.
MINI Design is about more than recognisability. Round headlights,
compact proportions, short overhangs and MINI’s signature go-kart
feeling remain at the heart of the brand to this day. These
characteristics are complemented by lovable details, opportunities for
customisation and a design that expresses personality.
“No MINI
looks like any other. MINI gives people the opportunity to express
their lifestyle and tell their own story,” says Hampf.
The brand continues to build on this idea with the current MINI
Family. The “Charismatic Simplicity” design language, reduced to the
essentials, enhances the character of each model, while providing the
foundation for a wide variety of personalisation options.
In the MINI Cooper Electric, this is reflected in clearly sculpted
surfaces, a puristic, modern body design and an interior that revisits
the fundamental concept of the classic Mini: fewer components, a round
Central Display and a compact steering wheel. In this way, the MINI
brand is once again reinventing itself for the electric and digital
future with its contemporary design.
The six-minute video is now available on the BMW Group
YouTube channel. It marks a special year for MINI, in which the
brand will also celebrate 25 years of production of the modern MINI
and its British roots with the limited MINI Cooper Oxford Edition.