Designing the first iteration of the modern Mini Cooper was no easy task, especially considering the Mini’s design remained relatively unchanged for over 40 years. When BMW acquired the Mini brand in 1994, it began a series of design studies with an effort on broadening the appeal of the iconic Mini Cooper. The resulting all-new Mini which debuted in 2000 needed to bring the classic Mini Cooper into the modern age without diluting its iconic design.
To take on the massive challenge, designer Frank Stephenson was brought to bear on this massive undertaking. Stephenson’s impressive resume includes the Maserati MC12, Ferrari F430, McLaren 12C, P1, 570S, and Fiat 500 shows his breadth of design experience to create and modernize iconic designs. The Mini Cooper design took place in the late 1990s and was a springboard for Stephenson’s career due to the resounding success of his redesign of this iconic hatchback.
When redesigning a classic…
