BiggleBit

The Mini Cooper Turn Signal is The Stupidest Turn Signals Ever

Lucas Anderson

Congratulations, Mini, You Made The Stupidest Turn Signals Ever

Oh, Mini Cooper, you’ve always been the quirky cousin in the automotive family, but your latest design choice has left us scratching our heads. It seems the turn signals on the Mini Cooper have taken a creative detour, and not in a good way.

The Union Jack Dilemma

Some Mini enthusiasts have been quick to defend the peculiar turn signal design, arguing that it’s a clever portrayal of half the Union Jack flag. Well, hooray for stumpy arrow patriotism! As an American, I must confess that my daily life doesn’t involve constant encounters with the Union Jack, so forgive me if I don’t immediately interpret diagonal lines with a horizontal stripe as a nationalistic statement. It’s like expecting three stacked squares to scream “Germany!” or a random semicircle to be an obvious nod to Japan.

 

@worbswithtrends

Why would they make the signal like this? 🧐 #arrowtotheheart #arrow #direction #signal #designflaws #minicooper #turnsignal #vehicledesign

♬ Cumbia Buena – Grupo La Cumbia

 

Arrows, Not Flags, Please

What I’m used to, however, are turn signals on emergency vehicles and big rigs that, shockingly, point in the direction of the turn. Call me old-fashioned, but I find comfort in the simplicity of an arrow-shaped signal indicating a left or right maneuver. Mini, on the other hand, decided to throw us a curveball by turning their turn signals into half a Union Jack. Cue the confusion and mixed messages, because nothing says “smooth lane change” like a left-pointing arrow on the right side of the car.

Now, I’m not against a bit of flair in automotive design, but making turn signals look like a fragmented national flag? That’s a design mess even the quirkiest car enthusiasts might struggle to defend. I thought BMW, Mini’s parent company, had higher standards.

Tweets Don’t Lie

Of course, the internet had a field day with this design choice.

Twitter users like…

 

 

All expressed their confusion and dismay at the Mini Cooper’s rebellious turn signal behavior. Who knew a simple lane change could turn into a national identity crisis?

 

Union Jack or Union Oops?

Some argue that if half the Union Jack looks like an arrow, it’s probably not the best idea for a turn signal. While a few defenders insist it’s a cute nod to British charm, the practicality of deciphering a blinky flag on the road is questionable at best. Sure, car turn signals are universal, but there’s a limit to how much national pride we can squeeze into a left or right arrow.

In the end, Mini Cooper’s decision to make turn signals look like a half-unfurled Union Jack might not be the apocalypse, but it’s certainly a bit of a “cock-up.” And as for those brake lights doubling as indicators? Well, that’s just another case of design decisions leaving us scratching our heads. Good luck figuring out if the car in front of you is turning left or just tapping the brakes.

So, Mini, here’s a suggestion for your next design meeting: keep the quirkiness in the interior and let the turn signals be the simple, universally understood arrows we all know and love. Your drivers—and the confused drivers around them—will thank you.