Auto Design

Giancarlo Perini (c)

After proposing a series of concepts and teasers, Mini is now ready to launch on the market its sixth member of its range: the Mini Roadster. The charming kid is the first open-top two-seater in the brand history and to so me extent it links to the British tradition of open sports cars, with a light and simple manual soft-top roof. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

The 2011 Auto Shanghai motor show, opening in a week time, will not be business as usual. Indeed it will mark a new era of the entire world car industry, the one steered by the Chinese market and industry. China is the biggest car market, and the one that is growing faster worldwide. The leading premium brands are betting on for most of their growth in the decade. Read the rest of this entry »

With most new concept cars actually relying on hybrid technology or Electric drive only, there were three traditional concepts cars. The first was a dream car, the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Super Light. The other two came both from Mini: the Mini Coupé and Roadster, both previewing the spirited design that will set the next Mini “Twin” models apart. Read the rest of this entry »

Different.

Obviously the main feature of any Mini is to be different. An alternative to what the market has to offer. An alternative with a strong character and a personality of its own. These remains – or at least this is what appear – the first guidelines for the design of the Mini Coupé Concept being unveiled in a couple of weeks in Frankfurt and previewed on time by the carmaker. Read the rest of this entry »

It looks funny and you are right in asking yourself how such a small car can pull such a big Trailer with the iconic look and brand such as Airstream. You need not to worry though. On one side the Mini Cooper S Clubman is small but has muscles enough to deliver 172 HP, the Airstream trailer is not that big, and it is all-aluminium, lighter than you may think of. Read the rest of this entry »

I have known Christopher “Chris” Bangle since he was at Opel at the time when he designed the interior of the Opel Junior show-car. Through the years we have talked several times. I cannot consider him a friend. We never met for other reasons than our jobs and in our roles, but through the years I have been appreciating more and more what he was doing at Fiat, when he was there and at BMW.

Read the rest of this entry »

It is imperative: the new Mini 2009 Cabrio must be driven “Always Open”. Otherwise where is the reason to choose it. Sure it has a very efficient soft roof that you can open or close in 15 seconds but it is a lot more fun to drive the car with the sky above your head. Read the rest of this entry »

MINI has released official pictures of the success of the current Cabriolet due to make its first public appearance at the Detroit Motor Show next month. It is good to hear that the BMW Group is sticking to their long term program and will be in Detroit with their little jewel offering open-roof motoring for up to four car enthusiasts. Here is the second generation Cabriolet of the Mini of the third millennium giving us the desire of bright and sunny days, for ourselves and for the car industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Brought to you from the company design centre.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words.

However, here some news you might light to read, in addition to what I reported before the Paris Motor Show.

The Mini Crossover Concept is said to be anticipating a significant – and to some extent revolutionary – addition to the range. The Crossover contains the seeds of the new generation “down-sized” SUV that will be anything but a SUV. This explains why it is called “Crossover”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Going to an international motor show is like going to the annual market. You meet a lot of friends and people, see many things and you come back home with the head full of information, impressions, news, comments and opinions. So much so that indeed you need a few days to arrange everything in some sort of order so that you get to the essence of the experience. This is all the same and yet all different every time. And I am not just talking of the cars.

As for cars, new cars I mean, I have come home with an incredible load of pictures and information.

I would have to share them all with you the very moment I sat back to my PC last Saturday but this is simply impossible. It takes a lot of time to put a label and classify more than 2000 images.

Now, having done just that I can start sharing with you some of the most significant. Or at least some that I image you want to see as soon as possible.

This is why, at this time I am offering you a series of photo galleries to look at. What you see is a combination of images shot at the Paris “Mondial de l’Automobile” and images provided by the press offices and design studio of the car makers.

I am giving priority to the latter ones, as the most attractive and unique.

Related information and comments will be posted shortly. Click on images below to access their photo gallery.