These acquainted with BMW are possible conscious of a number of the wild ideas the model has dropped at life over time. However MINI’s been with BMW some time now, and sometimes, a number of the novelty spills over. The most effective examples? The wild “MINI Ferrari,” or as you would possibly realize it, the MINI Superleggera. The open-top two-seater seems like nothing else from the model — and it virtually made it onto a manufacturing line. Because of Steve Saxty’s BMW books, we now have extra perception than ever into what it took to make the roadster spring off the web page and into actuality.
Origins of the MINI Superleggera
In 2006, Anders Warming, then BMW Group’s inventive lead, had a brainwave. Now a number of years after the BMW Z8 got here to market, he thought it could be a good suggestion to indicate the smaller model some love and produce a automobile with related halo energy carrying a MINI badge. It didn’t occur till practically a decade later, however the “MINI Ferrari,” as Anders envisioned it, would finally see the sunshine of day. Humorous sufficient, it could in some methods find yourself sharing extra with BMW’s electrical choices than the Z8.
For Ville d’Este 2014, Adrian van Hooydonk reached out to Touring Superleggera. BMW teamed up with the Milanese coachbuilder up to now to develop the 328 Touring Coupe. It wasn’t laborious to persuade van Hooydonk to do the MINI Ferrari venture. “We do the Minarri — think about that with all of the Dusenbergs,” Warning mentioned. Contemplating a lot of the level of Ville d’Este was telling distinctive automotive tales, van Hooydonk went for it. It was the right alternative to deliver to life a separate venture, presently dubbed the i4. Whereas not precisely the electrified 4 Sequence we all know in the present day, it was an EV — sans roof and sporting roadster strains. Why the “i4” badge? The automobile’s design was initially supposed to parallel the connection between the Porsche 911 and Boxster. Besides, on this case, the i8 takes the place of the 911.
Finally, the MINI Superleggera ended up leaning closely on present MINI design language. Working facet by facet, MINI and Touring Superleggera developed the idea, retaining model hallmarks just like the hexagonal grille. It even used F56 headlights and Union Jack taillights, the latter which later debuted in manufacturing MINIs. Shockingly, it even retained the electrical powertrain that its predecessor touted.
Why MINI Superleggera By no means Made It
MINI initially deliberate to construct the Superleggera. BMW had even constructed a second automobile, presuming every part was greenlit. Nevertheless it by no means occurred. However BMW was critical concerning the automobile, even probing motorbike producers to see if a low-volume run was attainable. Sadly, all of it fell to the wayside. At the moment, BMW’s electrical choices are way more streamlined — that they had virtually zero electrification when the Superleggera debuted — which was allegedly a number of the motive the MINI Superleggera by no means got here to fruition. A crowded lineup with too many fashions meant no room for the Superleggera. So…perhaps we now have a greater shot in the present day?
Quotes and a few info for this story got here from BMW by Design, which we at all times suggest selecting up. Inside, you’ll discover tales like these in much more element. Even higher, you’ll take pleasure in photographs you’ll be able to’t discover wherever else. Go get yours!
