Frank Stephenson

I read that about the Ducati. From what he wrote, and the way he wrote it, I think he'd fit right in here. Ok, maybe he couldn't write about the F56 honestly here, the bloodletting may twist too many undergarments, although he's been diplomatic, it's not too hard to read between the lines. Powder Puff Wussy Chickenpoop, it doesn't get much better than that (tell us how you really feel), although it could, if got drunk enough to post about the direction MINI has gone.

It was would great if he dropped the guard a bit. He probably won't/can't, but just imagine Drew hovering over the ban button on THE Frank Stephenson, telling it like it is/was. It would be enough to bring Monty Python out of retirement, another good thing...

 

If it's really FS in that thread, you're dead on--in that thread the real or unreal Frank wrote that he thought the MINI should have gone more futuristic, and broken away from the R53 mold to go in a different design direction; he wrote that he felt MINI has boxed itself in similar to what Porsche did with the 911. I never really looked at it that way before, but it does make a certain amount of sense, especially when you factor in the Euro laws.

I'm coming around to the fact that maybe with the new design constraints a "modern" looking MINI that breaks away from the R53 mold wouldn't be a bad thing. At this point I think it would be better than taking the basic shape and adding to it--the car is, at this point, out of proportion, especially from the side angle where the nose overhang is brutal. I think it's time to get off that.

On the other hand, he mentioned he'd like to see a smaller, more economical MINI in the line up (Rocketman anyone). Can't argue with that.

 

Frank Stephenson's post in response to a F56 owner asking him why he didn't like the F56:

"Hi pepper and the gang. No problem, this thread won't diasppear, I'm always checking in and will try to respond whenever anybody has a question.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the 2014 range, I only meant that, in my eyes, it doesn't take MINI any further along the path that I would expect a 3rd generation product to go.

Most critically, it's much bigger in both length and width. That's great for comfort and passenger space but for me it goes against the grain of the orginal concept...big on the inside, small on the outside. That's what gave the original and the 1st new generation their principle character. They say it's evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Well, that's the truth but where is the innovation? Seems they've taken a back seat on spending money moving the design technology forward. On my version I had to lock horns everyday to push the "impossible" single piece clamshell hood through that gave better engine bay access while intergrating the headlamps in it to eliminate the huge overslam gap (that would've been needed) between the chrome headlamp bezel and hood. Flushness was "impossible" to achieve but we managed it and the result was a look of superior quality and attention to detail. The single piece wrap-around rear quarter glass was also "impossible" to press as was the position of the "away from the tailgate gap" taillamps. There were plenty of other "impossible" design details that pushed the limits of engineering back then.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I miss seeing MINI keeping up with the times in terms of raising the design innovation bar. I love the spirited up-graded engines and improved material quality but I also wish they would've "futurized" the 2nd and 3rd generations in a more progressive way...more first impression "wow-ness" and more "how the heck did they manage to do that???" design features. In other words, push the aesthetics into a feasible concept car direction. I can't imagine Porsche 911 designers now having the chance to go crazy with a super exciting NEW form advancement, maybe that's a good thing for such an iconic car, but it sure hampers out of the box creative thinking and creative solutions. The original MINI was a revolutionary ground-breaking design. That idea should remain at the heart of the MINI design philosophy in my opinion."


Two things--it's a great post, and if it's not Frank Stephenson, someone has channeled his juju, and is doing one hell of an impersonation. I think it's real.