In a shocking turn of events, MINI corporate in Munich have released an official statement that based on the overwhelmingly negative response to the spied photos of the F56’s pre-production interior, they’re sending the MINI Design Team back to the drawing board. Way back, in fact. They’re sending them all the way back to 1958.

April 1st 2013, Munich. Official release: Due to overwhelming negative response on the MINI news site MotoringFile.com, the MINI Design Team have decided to scrap the planned interior redesign in the upcoming 2014 MINI. Instead, based on consistent feedback that the interior be in touch with its Mini roots, the team have opted to retrograde the design back to the original 1958 Mini interior design.

To stay on schedule for a fall release, they’ve worked feverishly over the weekend to integrate modern technology and conveniences that consumers around the world demand. As seen in the accompanying photographs, designers have managed to integrate airbags, infotainment, HVAC controls paired with large vents, and a stand-alone tachometer. However, there is work yet to be done. Designers are working feverishly to render a rear-view mirror larger than the classic unit, which is roughly the size of “a deck of cards.” Additionally, updated upholstery will be fitted throughout, following yet more consumer feedback that the original materials reminded drivers of “their grandmother’s couch.”

Safety considerations have not been forgotten in devolving the new MINI’s interior. Soft touch foams and plastics will be used throughout to help soften any occupant “contact” during unexpected decelerations. The team is considering departing from the original Mini even further by including seat belts.

MINI Designers were puzzled to find that once their evolutions to the original were complete, they’d arrived at approximately the interior design for the current generation MINI Hardtop. However, this still has room for improvement. The team plans to look into enlarging the navigation screen, simplifying the HVAC and radio controls, and combining the tachometer and speedometers into a single gauge cluster for better driver convenience. Finer materials are also in consideration, as well as possibly better technological integration for today’s ever more connected drivers. The final design will be unveiled later this year, and the MINI Design Team has high hopes that given all this incorporated input from the MINI enthusiast community, the newly re-refreshed interior will be a big hit with MINI fans around the world.