In the courtyard of the House of BMW in Via Montenapoleone in Milan, which for a week hosted only the Mini brand, the Italian public got to know for the first time the Cooper and Countryman introduced last month at the Munich Motor Show. To present them, an installation of ecological balloons and multichromatic light bars: the first intended as a reference to the use of sustainable materials for the passenger compartment, the second… the House revealed it later.
In the meantime, everyone was looking at the shapes of the two protagonists and discussing the new style language “Charismatic Simplicity”. “It is inspired by our history, but is characterised by clear, concise lines that are intuitively focused on the essence of the car,” said Oliver Heilmer, head of design at Mini. In real life, the result was convincing, especially for the three-door which, net of the somewhat forced name (Cooper identified the sports cars) and the curious rear light clusters, has maintained the proportions of the previous one. The Countryman is larger and more elaborate, but capable of surprising with a minimalist and pleasant cabin like its younger sister. The recycled fabrics of both deserved a caress “in presence”.
For the interior, Mini Experience Modes will soon be available, i.e. visual and auditory configurations generated by an optional projector and 30 sound effects: guests and journalists could therefore try them out and comment on them, indirectly confirming the intentions of the designers. “With the approach adopted, each model in the range acquires a strong and personal character,” Heilmer said in Munich. This explains the play of light at the beginning: they translated the colourful lighting modes designed for the driver and passengers into an architectural dimension. The project shaped the event.
