Warming Up: Mini to get new design head as Hildebrand exits

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, BMW, Mini, Design/Style

MINI Roadster Concept – Click above for a high-res image gallery

Mini, perhaps more than any other automotive brand in the world, is defined by the style of its vehicles. Sure, Minis are decent performers and score pretty well on the fun-to-drive quotient, but the initial attraction of the brand is often due to the brand’s excellent execution of “the look.”

And, beside Alec Issigonis, the designer behind the iconic original Mini, this successful design language can be most directly attributed to Gert Volker Hildebrand, who up until now served as the head of the Mini Design Studio. That means Hildebrand is responsible for the reborn Cooper from 2001 and its siblings, the Convertible, Clubman and Countryman. He also oversaw the designs of the Mini Coupe and Roadster concepts from 2009, which are now nearing production.

A tough act to follow, no? Certainly, but it would seem the mantle will be ably handled by Hildebrand’s replacement, Anders Warming, who currently serves as head of Exterior Design, BMW Automobiles. Warming is attributed with recently updated models from BMW that include the Z4, 5 Series and, most recently, the 6 Series Concept Coupe.

Warming, we wish you the best of luck. A full press release announcing the transition can be found after the break.

Gallery: MINI Roadster Concept