It’s a preview for the overall future Mini design direction too, with what the marque calls ‘Charismatic Simplicity’, emphasising a focus on the essentials. Read: less fussy, more modern. It’s a design trend permeating the industry at the moment that we fully approve of. Mini-ness abound, with the simplified flag rear lights and lamp-shaped day-runner at the front, though for this concept the whole front end is covered in lights. The Matrix LED units in the grille display a union jack graphic, while the grille surround lights up and the right-hand lamp ‘winks’. Yes really. The car will even project a ‘cloud’ of light and make noise as you approach it. there’s also a colourful animation projected on the floor as you open the door. In short, the whole thing is an orgy of spectacular lighting.
Of course, the simplification and concept car funkiness continues on the inside, with as much of a focus on sustainable materials as there is design. For a kick-off, Mini has fully dispensed with all chrome and leather.
There are knitted recycled textiles imbued with fresh colour contrasts. We initially thought the floating dash was embroidered with a stylised London map. The reality is that it’s a projection and you can have almost anything you want to be projected onto your dash. In a car from any other brand, this would be right up the top of our list of details likely to go in the bin before production. But this is Mini. These cars have Union Jack rear lights. Anything is possible.