A MINI MAKEOVER
BrITIsH fashion designer sir Paul smith has created a ‘stripped back’ electric MINI to shine a spotlight on sustainability in automotive manufacturing. sir Paul has applied his eye for a stylish sharp suit to create the one-off back-tobasics version of the new green zeroemissions MINI electric that also encapsulates his trademark ‘classic with a twist’ philosophy, using cork, recycled plastic and a few surprises.
The collaboration gives a hint of how a more back-to-basics next generation MINI may look, both inside and out.
This MINI strip is described as ‘a custom-made, one-off model’ created to showcase the carmaker’s green credentials and — with his signature on the dashboard — was given its world premiere on Thursday at his boutique in london’s Mayfair.
when I asked him if it paves the way for a subsequent Paul smith designer car for customers to buy, he said: ‘watch this space.’
sir Paul added, ‘A few years ago I did a striped MINI. This time I wanted to have a more radical approach to designing the car, a stripped out MINI.’
Working with MINI’s chief designer oliver Heilmer the pair went back to MINI electric’s ‘structural essence’, then added only elements viewed as absolutely necessary.
With the exception of the dashboard, topper pad and parcel shelf, all trim parts have been removed, turning the exposed bodyshell and vivid blue paintwork into the dominant visual feature of the cabin.
But it also comes with a classic ‘Paul smith’ twist of unexpected details. Cork is used for the dashboard topper pad, door shoulders and parcel shelf, which is fully recyclable.
The interior pull-handles in the door are made from twisted bright orange mountaineering rope and match the seatbelts.
Visible screws show how simply the car could be dismantled and recycled at the end of its life.
‘It’s a minimalist design. less is more,’ said sir Paul, adding that just as with his clothing and suits where he would have a classic design on the outside, the lining inside would usually have a flash of extravagance and colour.
‘Most of the action happens on the inside,’ he said.