Mini Countryman Product Competition Results Reveal Interesting New Auto Interior Uses

You may have heard about a design competition Mini launched earlier in the year to develop accessory ideas for the interior center rail in their new Countryman vehicle. The winning designs have been released and span from practical to whimsical. Here’s a look at the top six winning ideas.

Top prize went to Satoshi Nakamura from Germany who proposed an interior fireplace complete with an electric kettle and warm beverage holders. Yes, a fireplace in a car. Perfect for a ski trip or maybe an in-car barbecue.

Mini Star Karaoke by Chris Townsend of the UK proposed a compact karaoke unit which could attach to the rail for backseat passengers. The concept aims to revive the family sing-along on road trips. The driver acts as performance judge and can vote with a red or green button on the steering wheel.

Andrew Till from Italy created a mounting bracket which holds an iPad in a horizontal position on the rail. Siting between the two backseat passengers, the tablet becomes a digital gaming board.

Extra Steering Wheel by DougRG of Guatemala uses the rail as a support for a backseat steering wheel for kids(young and old) The idea plays off Mini’s ‘motoring’ tag-line by giving kids the chance to feel like a real Mini driver.

Alessandro Rota from Italy proposed a rail mounted container for markers and interior panels that could be tagged or drawn on as a way to personalize the interior.

Brooklyn’s jcd0011′s Mini Projector transforms the interior into a movie theater with a rail mounted projector and windshield screen.

The top three ideas will be produced as prototypes and shown at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

Mini

[via minispace]