MINI's head of design has revealed some new details
about the company's future and its upcoming electric vehicle. In an
interview-style press release, Oliver Heilmer said the company's product range
is "very good" but admitted "our path can not only be
evolutionary." As he explained, advances in technology are changing the
world of design and MINI needs to look to a future with autonomous driving
technology and electric mobility.
Speaking of technology, Heilmer said drivers should
be able to "communicate and interact" with their MINI like friends
instead of using menus and clicks. This change is coming pretty soon as the BMW
Group has already announced plans to integrate Amazon's Alexa into BMW and MINI
models starting later this year.
Heilmer says he believes the "MINI in the
future will be pure electric" and noted EVs give designers "whole new
freedoms as far as interior space and proportions are concerned." MINI has
plans to launch an electric vehicle in 2019 and it was recently previewed by a
concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Heilmer didn't say much about the vehicle
but stated it will be a "genuine MINI" and revealed its electric
nature will be "visible in its details – e.g. unconventional and
innovative details which reference the traditional MINI world but which at the
same time combine it with new technologies." He went on to say the model
will benefit from 3D printing but stated "we’re still working intensively
on the design and there are still decisions to be taken."
