We just happened to be in Italy at Lake Como for the Concours when they planned to release the latest MINI Vision concept so they invited us to tour the facility where it was all hand fabricated and then attend the grand unveiling. Since so many press photos are already available to show off the final build, we decided to take a slightly different route and focus on the actual Coachwork production that goes into projects such as this and show off some of the beautiful details that make the concept truly special IMO. Hope you enjoy: "Super Light" - Touring Superleggera in Milan, Italy - Stance Works
I like parts of it. Don't see them building it as it sits now. If they do it blows the euro pedistrian law reasoning as to why the front bumper on the new Cooper looks the way it does. Or either this car won't be offered in Europe.
BMW never really views these Vision Concepts as actual renditions of potential models as much as they use them to practice certain styling cues and dictate a certain design language that they're hoping to promote. They're handled a bit differently from the actual Concepts that you see coming out that are meant to represent the next model they're working on. And fortunately Concepts don't have to play by any laws or regulations so you don't end up with hideous pedestrian friendly bumpers :lol:
I like it and I think they would sell if BMW/Mini were to offer them and not ask an outrageous price.
Very well done Rally! Pictures are awesome, I think I have reached my visual saturation point for the day!
Hmmm. It's not actually even a Mini concept, is it? Didn't Touring design it? Is it really just a piece of fluff to flatter BMW and help convince them to give Touring the work they really want (sub-contract building a specialist ultra-low-volume BMW, maybe?) It isn't a Mini in size either, as it has been widened. So it's an Audi TT-size car with a Mini engine and badge. But it looks cute and I guess that is all that matters to 99% of even Mini buyers.
MINI worked with Touring to design it in collaboration and Touring lent their skilled hands to actually bring the dream to reality. They've got a fairly lengthy history so I'm not sure they need much convincing if such a project were to ever arise. I think all vision concepts could be considered "fluff" if you want to look at it cynically. Vision concepts are basically a practice in design where the artist is allowed more freedom to express the company's design aesthetic without being limited by safety standards, mass production cost, or daily use like they are with the production vehicles. If you notice, BMW always seems to have a new vision concept to debut at the Concorso D'Eleganza....an event they are title sponsor of. They used it to debut the M1-styled prototype, the 328 homage car, and the crazy shifting fabric car.....all simply artistic displays of the company's design aesthetic to be shown off at the show in the concept category. It's basically a fancy art piece on 4 wheels. You'll notice on this car (debuted at the same show a few years back) that after being given free reign to design an M1 homage concept, many of the designs traits later found their way onto the BMW i8 production cars...hence the future "vision" aspect of Vision Concepts.