So much of the Mini E's psychological charge comes from its Mini-ness that it still rankles me that the Germans have messed up the interior with the second-generation Mini. It's as if they've smudged it with a giant eraser, taking down the colors, finishes and even shapes into the typical tone-on-tone grayness that you see in German rental cars.
Some of the best work in Frank Stephenson's design comes from his appreciation of the way the original Mini had been assembled from lots of little pieces, and he reproduced it all, including the central speedometer, the toggle switches on the center console, and even a stylized representation of a roll cage.
What we have now is the Mini interior dumbed down to graphic elements (and then painted yellow), which is perfect for those who really want this car's speedometer in front of the driver.
Then the Mini would be ever so much like a real car. You know, like a Toyota Yaris.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 2,350 miles
compliance says:
09:03 AM, 10/22/09
As a non Mini driver I can't tell the difference. It looks the exact same to me.
nealibob says:
09:25 AM, 10/22/09
No one wants the speedo in the center, anyway. I think they're banking on people either not caring about their speed, or using the digital speedo in the display on the tach. You may have noticed that the needle is so far off the surface that from any angle other than head-on, you can't get an accurate reading.
I think the current MINIs still have plenty of personality, but can still be classy at the same time. It is a versatile design. Plus, I think it's pretty hard to lose the charge when you're selling pretty much the only mass produced all-electric vehicle on the market (at least in a traditional car form).
hybris says:
10:34 AM, 10/22/09
I'll admit I'm not a fan of yellow on black or the huge virtually useless speedo in the center besides that I could live with the interior of the Mini from what I have seen.
super_ongoy says:
10:59 AM, 10/22/09
I mean just the other day someone was giving me a hard time about how often I forget to recharge my phone and she can't get in touch with me when she needs to ask me stuff (or just nag). This car has not been sitting too well with me as if I had eaten a day old burrito that's been sitting out. And I realized that it reminds me of my cellphone. And I always hated that Flavor Flav speedometer.
cr_driver says:
11:22 AM, 10/22/09
Yeah, we get it u dont like it......we ge it.
sabastian says:
12:29 PM, 10/22/09
There is a digital speedo in the tach, so the whole central-speedo thing really comes down to whether or not you like the look. I'm not a fan, but it didn't stop me from buying one. I really like to overall look of the interior, however, especially with the number of customization options available. After getting out of a Mini, everything else just seems a little bland.
bankerdanny says:
03:47 PM, 10/22/09
For me the toggle switches for the windows in the center stack are a big problem. I don't like having to reach down and forward. The switches should be on the door or the center console (ala the G8 and my old 535). My wife can't straighten her right arm 100% due to damage from a car accident. She would have a difficult time opeinig the windows on a mini.
I don't onbject to the switches themselves, but the placement is an ergonomic disaster.
misterfusion says:
04:08 PM, 10/22/09
"What we have now is the Mini interior dumbed down to graphic elements (and then painted yellow), which is perfect for those who really want this car's speedometer in front of the driver.
Then the Mini would be ever so much like a real car. You know, like a Toyota Yaris."
Except that the Yaris' speedo is also in the center. :P
mjp16 says:
05:48 PM, 10/22/09
The MINI's interior looks far better with the chrome line package. The chrome rings look far better than the dull grey standard ones: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/mini_cooper_interior_580.jpg.