MINI head of design, Anders Warming, sat down with AutoExpress and discussed the MINI Superleggera; an all-electric sports car concept MINI’s all-electric sports car concept, the Superleggera Vision, is making its first appearance in the UK at the 2014 Salon Prive classic and sports car show in London. We chatted with the man behind the design and in charge of signing off the styling of all modern Minis, ex-BMW and VW designers Anders Warming. Anders, apart from classic cars, what inspired you to create a new Mini sports car? "That’s a huge question. The first thing was how a Mini drives. Classic Minis and new MINIs are really fun to drive – they are like little sports cars. So we wanted a car that had modernity but the simplicity of the original Mini. We also referred to the idea of an Italian ‘barchetta’, or little boat in the look of the car. It is very Italian. "Cars are special in Italy, so Italian fashion was important too. Even the colour, which is very elegant, is like a Milanese tailored suit. The purple accents all over the car on the brakes and inside are [a finishing touch], like cufflinks." And what about cars – which cars have you been inspired by here? "So many. I had an Austin-Healy 'Frogeye' Sprite when I lived in the US, and there is some of that in the rear of the car. The fin is of course a reference to the Jaguar D-Type, but so many great Jaguars inspired the car – I love the XK120, C-Types, D-Types and E-Types." Did the Bluebird land speed record cars have anything to do with the fin? "[Laughs] No, I hadn’t thought of that. But I might tell people that from now on!" Read more: Lowdown on MINI Superleggera sports car concept | Auto Express
Dave don't look it in the eyes! It's better that way! I like it but I would like a good old gas engine.
Well you have all the tree huggers to blame for electric cars. Which are not saving out planet at all and if anything they are making it worse. Where do people think electric comes from? How are batteries made? Where do the old batteries go? Idiots:mad2:
With Vision..... The buzz will be uprated speakers instead of uprated exhaust for the vrooom vrooom noise....
OK, so I drive to gramma's house using 70% of my stuff. Gramma doesn't have anyplace to get more stuff and the closest place to get more stuff takes 40% of a full charge of stuff to get to. So, either don't ever go visit gramma or once you get there let her keep it for a planter and walk home. Makes perfect sense to me.
I think it is a pretty sweet little car. There are a few things that need to be changed, like a fossil fueled power plant but for the most part I think it hits a lot of the wickets that everyone is complaining about the F56. My favorite... very simple and classy!
Like all other manufactures this is but one of the many reasons our cars cost so much. These R&D/prototype cars they either spent a fortune to build or paid another company to build knowing full well they aren't going to manufacture it..
As it sits I totally agree. Just based on the materials I dont see how it would be cost effective for BMW to manufacture this concept on a large scale. I have read a few articals on the Superleggra MINI and the Head dude for MINI production really wants to see this hit the streets. The question is will the bang be worth the buck R&D cost if it ever makes the street?
If the Roadster and Coupe fall by the way side this car has no tie in with MINI. If the roadster hangs around it could be morphed into this.. or just another model down the road I guess.. They'd have to be careful with the price or it will end up on the "way side" with the Roadster/Coupe...
They already failed with a MINI Roadster before from a sales standpoint. I like the looks of the Roadster and it would look even better after I modded one. :ihih: They already made a MINI E that was lease. Nothing became of that. This is a We could but we wont. BMW / MINI just wanted to show us how they were wasting money and why our parts and repairs cost so damn much. Next thing you know they will make a 4 door MINI hardtop. :frown2::ihih::lol: http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/mini-stuff/22661-mini-hardtop-4-door-configurator-up.html#post277217
Decision to build BMW's new electric Mini months away. From Automotive News. (not a fly by night rumor website but a very respected source. Source - http://www.autonews.com/article/20140909/COPY01/309099951/decision-to-build-bmws-new-electric-mini-months-away?cciid=email-autonews-daily