MINI Paul Smith Editions
Story by Dwain Hebda // Photography Provided
As a category, MINI Cooper drivers are known for tastes that run slightly off-center. Ever since it was first launched, the car has been engineered to match that design aesthetic—individualized and quirky, yet retaining an air of decorum that is unfailingly British.
Yet, even this beloved oddball of the automotive world needs to shake things up periodically, and this summer is one of those times. Behold, the impending arrival of the MINI Paul Smith Edition, designed by the famed artist and designer in his third collaboration with the automaker.
“It’s not often that you see two icons of British design work together in this way, and it’s wonderful that our partnership has carried on over so many years,” Sir Paul Smith said in advance media materials. “The MINI Paul Smith Edition has been a real privilege and a wonderful opportunity…new colors and new unexpected details that will be a welcomed surprise.”
Dave Arbaugh, pre-owned sales manager with ONYX Automotive in Omaha, said the much-anticipated release is bound to cause excitement among the MINI faithful.
“MINI’s kind of known for special editions and they come up with some quirky things,” he said. “The Paul Smith Edition is one of the most authentic special editions. It’s just really unabashedly British, and it’s iconic along with the brand.
“Think of it this way: if a guy that wants to buy a suit, he’s going to go buy a suit. A guy that wants to show his personality and have a little bit of fun with it probably buys a Paul Smith suit. It’s the same thing with MINI. People buy MINIs more with their heart. They want that personality, and Paul Smith gets that, taking the underlying classic British style and then adding playful, unexpected details and colors throughout.”
Born in Nottingham, England, in 1946, Sir Paul Smith is an icon in the world of fashion and creative industries. Having worked as a buyer and boutique manager before opening his own business in 1970, he burst into fashion with his first men’s collection in 1976.
By the 1980s, he, along with Giorgio Armani, pioneered a more relaxed cut for the formal men’s suit, making it his own through playful touches such as contrasting linings and other unexpected details. He dubbed his approach “classic with a twist,” and that tag has been the benchmark for everything that would follow.
In the late 1990s, Smith’s trademark colored stripes inspired a collaboration with MINI for the first time. The Paul Smith MINI appeared in 1998, a limited run of 1,800 cars, the most famous featuring “Paul Smith Blue” paint and anthracite wheels. Following a one-off in 1999, he came back with 2021’s MINI STRIP, featuring a minimalist design and simplistic detailing. The following year, MINI Recharged by Paul Smith appeared, a sustainable electric model designed with his input.
“MINI CUSTOMERS TEND TO APPRECIATE VEHICLES WITH CHARACTER, AND SPECIAL EDITIONS LIKE THIS GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING THAT FEELS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL AND UNIQUE THAN A STANDARD VEHICLE.”
-DAVE ARBAUGH
The 2026 collaboration is the largest and most comprehensive yet, and includes the MINI Cooper Paul Smith Edition in petrol and all-electric models: MINI Cooper 5-Door Paul Smith Edition and MINI Cooper Convertible Paul Smith Edition. The mechanical elements and physical specs of the special edition models are identical to regular MINI models, but the design elements leave no doubt that these limited-edition models are something special, both inside and out.
The cabin offers exclusive upholstery and a dashboard in a unique color and material combination. According to the MINI website, models also feature unexpected design touches including signature stripes, new color MINI logo, and color stitching on the steering wheel, all reflecting Paul Smith’s distinctive style, right down to the stereo speakers.
“Paul Smith’s design philosophy fits very naturally with MINI, which has always been a brand centered around personality, individuality, and fun,” Arbaugh said. “From my perspective, that’s really what makes this collaboration work. MINI customers tend to appreciate vehicles with character, and special editions like this give people something that feels a little more personal and unique than a standard vehicle.”
Each model comes in distinctive exterior colors: inspired white, statement grey, and the classic midnight black. The body paint is complemented by exclusive exterior accents and a unique roof design in the signature MINI black band in a new black-blue color, and an optional Nottingham green, featuring a subtle yet unmistakable Paul Smith stripe detail.
“THE PAUL SMITH EDITION IS ONE OF THE MOST AUTHENTIC SPECIAL EDITIONS. IT’S JUST REALLY UNABASHEDLY BRITISH, AND IT’S ICONIC ALONG WITH THE BRAND.”
-DAVE ARBAUGH
“The color schemes are understated, but very different,” Arbaugh said. “That Nottingham green as an accent color, especially paired with this shade of off-white, what they’re calling inspired white, just looks super cool.
“The stripes on the roof are a subtle nod back to another car back in the 1990s that Paul Smith did that’s all just crazy stripes, so there’s some acknowledgement of history there. People might also remember the super minimalistic one he did that was cool in its own way, but this new collaboration is, I think, going to be more fun.”
Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.
