Colour and material design: more character, more modernity, more MINI.

Munich. Developing colour and material schemes is an independent discipline within the MINI Design Studio. The interplay of newly developed patterns, colours, small design details and the use of innovative materials creates a particularly harmonious, homey ambience in the new MINI model interiors. Drawing inspiration from fashion, art, architecture and modern furniture design, completely new design worlds, still maintaining links to the rich tradition of iconic MINI design, emerge.

A key and consistent feature of the colour and material design for the new MINI model family is their particular attention to detail. It can be seen and sensed in every equipment variant. The colour scheme, choice of materials, visual and tactile elements combine to create an immersive and typical MINI overall experience.

Innovative materials offer new design possibilities.
One particular highlight is the innovative 2D weaving process used in the production of interior surfaces made from recycled polyester. The dashboards and door panels designed in this way create a sense of warmth and cosiness. The weaving process offers new design possibilities in terms of colouring and structure. It enables a dual-colour design with a particularly striking sense of depth. This comes about when the lower textile layer’s colour subtly shines through the upper one. This technique, inspired by sneaker design and meticulously refined, gives the surfaces a visual complexity, bringing a high-quality and unique appearance to the interior.

“The weaving process allows us to create unique dual-colour designs that bring a special aesthetic and atmosphere to the interior,” says Elena Schwörer, designer for materials and weaving. The woven textiles are not only visually appealing, but also offer an attractive tactile experience. The woven structure specially developed for the new MINI model family is a unique selling point, setting it apart from the competition. It also offers extensive customisation potential, as new colours and patterns can be easily introduced.

Colours and materials harmoniously combined.
The headrests of the new sports seats in the John Cooper Works Trim also feature an exclusive 2D woven surface that extends into the shoulder area. The combination of high-quality materials and precisely coordinated colour tones generates a harmonious, modern appearance in the cockpit as well as an exceptionally homey character. The new Vibrant Silver accent colour is a nuanced set-off to the contrasting stitching on the steering wheel.

“We wanted to use colours that respect the heritage of the brand and at the same time create a fresh, contemporary aesthetic,” explains Jeanette Ohlhäuser, colour designer at the MINI Design Studio. For example, British Racing Green, the iconic colour closely associated with the brand’s motorsport tradition, is interpreted as Dark Petrol in the new MINI Aceman interior. Favoured Trim picks up on the elegant colour tone in the woven surfaces of the dashboard and door trim as well as in the seat accents. Dark Petrol also harmonises particularly well with the Rebel Red exterior colour. This alternates between different shades of red and orange depending on how the light falls on it.

Precisely crafted structures for a special tactile experience.
The overall feel plays just as central a role in the interior design of the new MINI model family as the colour scheme and visual appearance of the materials. The surface textures and graining, found on almost every plastic part in the interior, are also developed with the utmost precision. “It is important to us that the texture of the surfaces harmonises perfectly with the other materials, such as the woven fabric in the interior,” says Marlies Michel, designer of MINI graining. The blueprints for the various surface textures used in the new MINI model family are based on influences that the design team draws from nature and science. This could be the grain on wood or rock, for example – but it could just as easily be a satellite photo of the earth, where fields, bodies of water or mountains can be seen as graphics with the appropriate resolution and provide inspiration for new grain patterns and structures. The very subtle MINI grain developed in this way blends perfectly with the visually strong weave and serves as a link between all the materials in the vehicle interior.

Many small individual elements form the parts of the equation that combines to form a harmonious, modern and high-quality overall picture. This extraordinary depth of detail once again emphasises the enormous leap forward in design that MINI has made with the new model generation.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Laura-Marie Kremser, BMW Group Design Press Officer
Phone: +49-89-382-98114
Email: laura-marie.kremser@bmwgroup.com

Almut Stollberg, Head of Communication Innovation, Design, Technology and Digital Car
Phone: +49-89-382-96543
Email: Almut.Stollberg@bmw.de