The Mini Cooper Gets a Paul Smith Makeover

Key Points

• Mini sold 288,290 units in 2025, a 17.7% year-on-year increase.
• The Paul Smith Edition, featuring unique design touches, debuts on electric and gas Mini Coopers.
• U.S. buyers get gas-only Paul Smith Editions; electric variant unavailable due to import tariffs.

Style as Strategy
Mini delivered a strong sales performance in 2025, posting a 17.7 percent year-on-year increase to 288,290 units sold. Building on that momentum, the brand is further enhancing the appeal of the Mini Cooper with the new Paul Smith Edition – created in collaboration with British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith – which is now rolling out in certain markets.

The special edition was initially unveiled during the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where other compact vehicles – such as the Honda Super-ONE – also made appearances. It draws from Paul Smith’s “Classic with a Twist” design philosophy, an approach intended to reflect Mini’s “playful, optimistic, and independent spirit” through cosmetic-focused changes.

What’s in the Package
Exterior-wise, the Paul Smith Edition is offered in three paint finishes: Midnight Black, Inspired White, and Statement Gray. One of its most distinctive visual cues is the use of Nottingham Green, which can be specified for the roof to create a signature contrast. Models finished in Midnight Black, however, use a black roof accented by contrasting gloss and matte black stripes.

Inside, the updates remain consistent across all variants. The cabin features Nightshade Blue seats paired with black knitted surfaces. Signature Paul Smith elements include the “Every day is a new beginning” script etched into the door sills and the designer’s name positioned at the six o’clock mark on the steering wheel. Completing the interior treatment is Paul Smith’s trademark “rabbit” motif, embedded into the floor mats.

The Catch for American Buyers
Mini has launched the Paul Smith Edition first with the all-electric version of its iconic compact car. For U.S. buyers, the electric Mini Cooper is currently not offered, largely because the model is primarily built in China via parent company BMW’s joint venture with Great Wall Motor (GWM), subjecting it to higher import tariffs. While Mini has previously expressed interest in bringing the electric Cooper—and the related Aceman—stateside, any such move would likely depend on future market and trade conditions. For now, the only fully electric model available to American buyers is the Countryman SE ALL4.

However, the Paul Smith Edition package will still reach the U.S. market through gas-fed variants of the Mini Cooper S, including the two-door, four-door, and Convertible models. The company has confirmed that these versions – powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 201 horsepower – are scheduled to go on sale in late summer of this year.