PressClub Global · Article.
MINI Vision Urbanaut. Make it your space.
17.11.2020 Press Kit
The MINI brand is using #NEXTGen to present, in a world exclusive, the MINI Vision Urbanaut – an all-new interpretation of a vision of space. This digital vision vehicle offers more interior space and versatility than ever before, but still on a minimal footprint.
Press Contact.
Laura-Marie Kremser
BMW Group
Tel: +49-89-382-98114
send an e-mail
Author.
Laura-Marie Kremser
BMW Group
This article in other PressClubs
Munich. The MINI brand is using #NEXTGen to present, in a world exclusive, the MINI Vision Urbanaut – an all-new interpretation of a vision of space. This digital vision vehicle offers more interior space and versatility than ever before, but still on a minimal footprint.
"The MINI brand has always stood for 'Clever Use of Space'. In the MINI Vision Urbanaut, we extend private space far into the public realm, creating completely new and enriching experiences," explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.
The MINI moments.
“MINI sees its future self primarily as an enabler
of and companion for unforgettable times – what we might call ‘MINI
moments’. The MINI Vision Urbanaut uses three curated MINI moments –
“Chill”, “Wanderlust” and “Vibe” – to present a wide range of possible
usage scenarios. The Chill moment invites you to catch a breath and
pause in the here and now. The car becomes a kind of retreat, a haven
where you can relax – or work with full concentration – during a
journey. Wanderlust is the only MINI moment where the MINI Vision
Urbanaut is being driven or driving with automated driving functions.
The moment Vibe puts time with other people at centre stage – in every
way”, adds Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. The exterior and
interior change to reflect the MINI moment at hand and give the
experience the best possible stage. An all-encompassing user
experience design, sustainable materials and a purely electric drive
system are additional ingredients of the overall concept.
The interior design – More Creative Use of Space.
As an innovative space concept, the MINI Vision
Urbanaut was designed from the inside out. The designers created the
spacious interior experience before developing the exterior, using
floor plans, pieces of furniture plus wooden scale models to provide
an indication of size. Over the course of the project, augmented
reality was employed to create a digital model, which was then
systematically optimised. Unusually tall for a MINI, but only 4.46 m
in length, the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides an interior space that
can be used in many different ways and offers a whole new ease of
movement inside the car.
Electric drive system and automated driving functions also
create new ways to use the interior.
Having been conceived from the outset as an
electrically powered vehicle with automated driving functions, the
MINI Vision Urbanaut has afforded the designers a greater level of
freedom when creating both the exterior and interior. “In 1959, the
very first Mini ushered in a small-scale revolution in vehicle
construction with its transversely mounted engine,” recalls Oliver
Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “With the MINI Vision Urbanaut we have
been able to rethink and increase the usable surface area inside the
car even further in relation to its footprint.”
One space, a multitude of possibilities.
The interior of the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides
the ideal environment in which to go on a journey, but is also the aim
of the journey. Having arrived at the chosen destination, it can
transform into a living room in just a few simple steps. Occupants
enter the innovative cabin through a large sliding door in the side of
the car. The cutting-edge slide and swivel mechanism is the ideal
design for urban driving conditions where space is at a premium. There
are no other doors on the driver’s side or front passenger side.
Driver’s area with “Daybed” and “Street Balcony”; “Cosy
Corner” in the rear.
An extremely flexible four-seat layout provides the
basis for the bright interior. The two front seats are designed to
rotate, while the backrests for the generously sized seat surface in
the rear can be folded manually (left rear seat) and turned around
(right rear seat). When the car is stationary, the dashboard lowers
and the driver’s area becomes a comfortable seating corner – the
“daybed”. Added to which, the windscreen can be opened upwards when
stationary to create a kind of Street Balcony. This enhances
interaction with the car’s surroundings and creates an even more
generous spatial experience.
The darker environs of the cabin’s rear section provide a quieter
space – the Cosy Corner. This area invites passengers to enjoy some
time to themselves. A textilecovered “Loop” extends over the seat
bench and features the option of LED backlighting. Between Cosy Corner
and the driver’s area is the open and airy central section of the car,
which offers quick access to all seating areas. With the door open, it
is even possible to sit on the floor. On the side of the car opposite
the entry door, a small integrated table with a plant adds a finishing
touch to the interior fittings. The table signifies the car’s new
centre point – the place where passengers meet, face and engage with
one another.
User interface and interaction design – “Analogue love,
digital connection” as a guiding principle.
Intuitive, discreet user interface solutions allow
conventional controls such as switches or buttons to be omitted. This
creates a minimalist, cosy spatial experience while maintaining full
connectivity. The principle of making things as simple as possible to
use (“natural interaction”) is highlighted by the “analogue”, tactile,
haptic experience of initiating a feature, e.g. the direct touch
operation option in the Loop over the rear seat bench. The circular
instrument is now positioned in the middle of the car – the new centre
of the action – and brings information to the place where people meet.
The “MINI Token” – the digital-analogue interface for MINI moments.
The MINI Token is the centrepiece of the MINI Vision
Urbanaut’s experience worlds. It is roughly the same size as a worry
stone and activates the three preconfigured MINI moments – Chill,
Wanderlust and Vibe – when placed in purpose-designed slots in the
table at the centre of the car. Other MINI moments are conceivable,
such as “My MINI moment”. Here, the MINI Token can be programmed to
provide another kind of personalised experience, in which the user can
configure their own preferred scenario of fragrance, ambient lighting,
music, etc. and call it up directly at a later time.
The exterior design – the spirit of the brand in a new form.
The purist mono-volume design of the MINI Vision
Urbanaut gives new meaning to the “Creative Use of Space” approach.
The flush, virtually seamless surface creates a modern baseline mood,
with high-quality details adding carefully judged stylistic
flourishes. In signature MINI fashion, the wheels are positioned at
the outer corners of the body, with short overhangs rounding off a
compact and agile appearance.
A new MINI face.
The front end of the MINI Vision Urbanaut represents
a clear evolution of two timehonoured MINI design icons – the
headlights and radiator grille. Positioned under a milled aluminium
structure with slotted openings, the headlights are only visible when
switched on. Thanks to their multicolour dynamic matrix design they
can display different multi-coloured graphics, which creates a new
form of communication between the car and the outside world to suit
each moment. The lights on the MINI Vision Urbanaut complement the
front “grille” with the attractive look distinctive to every MINI. The
enclosed grille itself is now octagonal in shape, representing an
evolution of the traditional hexagonal form. Since the MINI Vision
Urbanaut does not have a combustion engine requiring cooling air, the
grille assumes a new function: it now serves as an intelligence panel
for automated driving.
As with the headlights, mulitcolour dynamic matrix rear lights behind milled aluminium covers deliver a fresh aesthetic and present different looks in the various driving modes and MINI moments. On closer inspection, the distinctive, convex surfaces also pay homage to previous MINIs and the classic Mini. One small detail – the contour of the rear windows – references the form of the front grille and underscores the car’s stylistic consistency.
The clear form of the exterior supplies the car’s colours, materials and details with the perfect stage. The matt exterior shade Zero Gravity transitions from a metallic green with blue flip effect to a subtly toned grey. The windows show a pattern in body colour, fading in a gradient from bottom to top. This creates a harmonious transition from the vehicle body to the windows and roof. The pattern also provides a certain amount of privacy without having to darken the windows; the interior remains bright.
Illuminated skateboard wheels provide visual flourishes.
The visual highlight of the MINI Vision Urbanaut
when viewed from the side are the wheels, finished in the colour Ocean
Wave, a turquoise blue which sparks associations with the beach and
the sound of the sea. The abstract Union Jack profile of the wheels is
a nod to the car’s British heritage, while their shape recalls
skateboards – thereby further highlighting the car’s nimbleness and
non-conformist MINI twist. The wheels also represent another way in
which the car communicates with its surroundings. Transparent and
illuminated from the inside, their appearance changes according to the
selected MINI moment.
MINI charms – tactile loveables.
Occupying an exposed position in the C-pillar on the
driver’s side are the “charms”. They offer reminders of places
travelled, festivals or other events in the form of pins or stickers,
and are presented as graphic collector’s items behind glass, as if in
a display cabinet. The MINI charms are also an expression of
wanderlust and show what the owner has experienced with the MINI
Vision Urbanaut – like the stickers on camper vans or badges on
walking poles in days gone by. One charm is dedicated to the #Next Gen
platform on which the MINI Vision Urbanaut will celebrate its world
premiere. Another has a QR code which, when scanned, takes you to
MINI.com. In this way, the analogue and digital worlds come together
in the car’s exterior as well. Expressing the MINI moments in the
interior and exterior. If one of the three MINI moments is activated
by placing the MINI Token in the slots in the table, this is signalled
on the outside of the car through the front and rear surfaces and
wheel rims. In the interior, the whole geometry – including the seats,
the form of the dashboard/daybed and the backrest positions – can be
adjusted manually according to the MINI moment selected. The circular
instrument display also changes. Fragrance, sound and ambient lighting
continue to enrich the baseline mood initiated by the chosen MINI
moment.
MINI moment Chill – an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the city.
In the MINI moment Chill, the MINI Vision Urbanaut
becomes a private retreat, an urban oasis. While the rear seat bench
(Cosy Corner) invites various seating and lying positions, the backlit
Loop above it takes on an appearance inspired by a green forest canopy
and can also be dimmed. Ambient music and atmospheric sounds from
nature are added to the mix. In the central area, the circular
instrument folds down to become a table lamp, eliminating displays or
switches that might remind the customer of their automotive
surroundings. From the outside, the MINI moment Chill is revealed in
the abstract representation of a forest canopy around the headlights,
rear lights and wheels.
MINI moment Wanderlust – the joy of travelling together.
Wanderlust is the only one of the three MINI
moments where the MINI Vision Urbanaut is actually moving. In this
moment, the interior becomes the ideal place for driving the car, or
being driven by it, and enables customers to rediscover the romance of
travel. The user interface on the central circular instrument adapts
its visuals to reflect a world of travel inspired by tourism posters
of the 1950s and 60s. Alongside an animation of the route, additional
journey information – such as visitor attractions and arrival time –
is displayed here for those on board. The Loop above the rear seat
bench visualises the feeling of movement with a simulated blur of
passing scenery in a mix of orange and turquoise. When the customer
wants to drive themselves, a tap of a finger on the MINI logo brings
out the steering wheel and pedals. A minimalist parallax display in
the dashboard provides route instructions or hazard alerts. There are
no other driving-related displays in the dashboard. When automated
driving mode is activated, the steering wheel and pedals retract and
the driving display disappears from the dashboard. On the exterior of
the car, the light graphics in the LED matrix surfaces at the front
and rear ends signal whether automated mode has been engaged or the
customer is driving themselves.
MINI moment Vibe – celebrating community, sharing moments.
In the MINI moment Vibe, the MINI Vision
Urbanaut opens up to people and its surroundings, and provides an
experience of togetherness and interaction. Opening the side door and
folding up the windscreen creates a welcoming scene that blurs the
boundaries between the outside and inside. Amid a colour world of
magenta and black with turquoise highlights, the MINI Vision Urbanaut
provides a central meeting hub; one which can be either quiet or loud.
The central circular instrument becomes a media control centre. An
animation of graphic equalizers moving with the music is projected
onto surfaces of the front, rear, wheels and Loop above the rear seat
bench, creating a pleasant club atmosphere. If those on board so
desire, the car could even begin to resemble a boombox.
Digital services connected with the MINI Vision Urbanaut
The concept behind the MINI Vision Urbanaut includes
services designed to make using the car an enriching and seamless
experience. For example, the MINI Vision Urbanaut can be opened using
smart devices – so, in keeping with its status as a mobility option of
the future, it can be accessed by anyone within a defined circle of
family and friends. Playlists, audio books or podcasts to suit the
route and the moment can be explored while travelling in the
Wanderlust moment. A personal journey planner displays tips and points
of interest (POI) tailored to the individual, as well as
recommendations from the MINI Community. These can be proposed and
selected as desired.
Sustainable materials and a responsible mindset.
The MINI Vision Urbanaut is characterised by the
responsible use of resources. As well as maximum space within a small
footprint and the all-electric drive system, the MINI Vision Urbanaut
is committed to a responsible approach to materials. This is achieved
not only by reducing the number of components in the exterior and
interior design, but also by enabling dual functions such as the
dashboard/daybed. In addition to the use of recyclates, this also
means ensuring that the design is free of chrome and leather. Along
with the use of recycled materials, this also means avoiding chrome
and leather. The dominant material in the interior is knitted textile,
which combines cosiness and quality with softness and comfort. The use
of cork on the steering wheel and sections of the floor adds a special
touch thanks to its natural feel, and ensures an authentically
pleasant interior climate.
Article Offline Attachments.
-
MINI Vision Urbanaut - Highlights. PDF, EN, 213.04 KB
-
MINI Vision Urbanaut - Long version. PDF, EN, 222.78 KB