MINI has used the Tokyo motor show - sorry, the Japan Mobility Show - to give us a look at its latest Paul Smith special editions.
That's Paul Smith the fancy shirts guy, right?
Well, he's a bit more than that. The British fashion designer is something of a clothing icon, and he's been working with the MINI brand since as far back as 1998.
So these cars get fancy stripes under their cuffs?
And a bit more. The 2026 Paul Smith editions start with the MINI Cooper Electric three-door and will later debut on the petrol-powered three-door, five-door and Convertible.
You get two paint choices - 'Statement Grey', which is meant to hark back to the original 1959 Austin Seven and Morris MINI Minor, and which gets a blue-ish tint to the grey - and 'Inspired White', which is an homage to classic MINI beige.
There is technically a third colour which you can pick for the Paul Smith Editions, but that's Midnight Black, so it's not exclusive to the Paul Smith cars.
That's the paint, now what about the details?
Yes, Paul Smith is all about the details. You can have a choice of two roof colours - Jet Black or 'Nottingham Green' (named for Paul's hometown), along with Nottingham Green door mirror caps, and a matching stripe around the grille. There's also a Paul Smith 'Signature Stripe' which colour matches with whichever roof you choose.
See? Stripes! I told you there'd be stripes!
Yes, well done. There is more though, such as the word "Hello” picked out in Paul Smith's handwriting and projected onto the ground by the puddle lights, and the great man's signature on the boot.
Even the MINI logo gets a new blue-and-black finish, while there are 18-inch 'Night Spoke' alloy wheels in Dark Steel complete with Nottingham Green centre caps with Paul Smith lettering.
What about inside?
As you sit into the car, "Everyday is a new beginning” which is Smith's own motto, is on the door kickplates in his handwriting, and there's a reproduction of a hand drawing of a rabbit, by Smith, embossed into the floor mats.
The knitted fabric of the dashboard (made from recycled plastics) has been given the familiar Paul Smith pinstripe treatment, in a tone-on-tone colour scheme, while the steering wheel gets its own stripe, as well as the blue-and-black MINI badge, and a Paul Smith signature.
There are more stripes on the 'Nightshade Blue' seats, along with a Paul Smith logo and contrast-blue stitching. Finally, there's a Dark Steel finish for all the interior metal, including the door handles, speaker grilles and cupholders.
What is it with the whole Paul Smith and MINIs thing?
As I said, it goes back to 1998 and the original-shape Mini, when Smith helped to create a special blue paint for a limited edition, along with anthracite-coloured alloy wheels. Following that, for the Mini's 40th birthday in 1999, a one-off car was painted up with 86 stripes in 26 assorted colours in the Paul Smith style.
Then in 2021, Smith and MINI collaborated on the one-off MINI Strip show car, which highlighted just how much recycled and recyclable material could be used in a car, and in 2022, Smith and MINI took that 1999 stripe car and converted it to electric power.
When can I buy one?
First deliveries are expected in early 2026.