At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, MINI and celebrated British designer Paul Smith are set to once again join forces, unveiling a fresh chapter in their long-standing creative collaboration.
The Collaboration: New MINI × Paul Smith Edition
MINI will present the MINI Paul Smith Edition as part of the BMW Group Keynote on 29 October 2025, 09:55 JST, at the BMW Group stand in the West Exhibition Hall. This reveal continues a narrative that began in 1998, when Paul Smith first dressed a Classic Mini Cooper in his signature multicoloured stripe motif.
In 1999, to mark the Mini’s 40th anniversary, Smith created a one-off Mini with a “Signature Stripe” treatment that quickly became iconic. Since then, the pair have revisited the relationship in bold ways: most notably with MINI STRIP (2021), a concept that stripped away excess to focus on sustainability, and with MINI Recharged (2022), which retrofitted Smith’s original striped Mini into electric drive.
This 2025 edition is billed as a “next milestone,” fusing Smith’s design language with MINI’s evolving electric and performance lineup. While exact styling details are still under wraps, it is expected to embody the playful British spirit and colorful aesthetic that have defined their shared history.
MINI’s Showcase at the Show
Alongside the new Paul Smith Edition, MINI’s full current model range will be on display at the BMW Group stand. Highlights include:
- MINI Cooper SE — the fully electric model combining heritage with 218 hp of electric performance.
- MINI Cooper 5-Door S — offering more practicality while preserving agile proportions.
- MINI Convertible — embracing open-air driving in MINI’s “Always Open” philosophy.
- MINI John Cooper Works Aceman — a sporty, high-performance all-electric model (258 hp from a 54.2 kWh battery).
- MINI Countryman S ALL4 — the brand’s largest model, offering extra space and adventure capability.
These models underscore MINI’s direction: design-forward, electrified, and diversified.
Significance & Context
The Japan Mobility Show, held from October 29 to November 9, 2025, at Tokyo Big Sight, is positioned as a major international platform for mobility, technology, and design innovation. With more than 130 exhibitors, it serves as a dynamic stage for brands to showcase both vision and production.
For MINI and Paul Smith, Tokyo is more than just a show location: it’s part of their tradition. The original Paul Smith Mini was shown in Japan and sold strongly there — in fact, 1,500 of the 1,800 units built in 1999 were destined for the Japanese market. That historical resonance adds weight to the choice to debut the new edition in Tokyo.
The unveiling is not just a design spectacle but a reaffirmation of what the brand and designer can achieve together in an era of mobility transition. As MINI moves deeper into electrification and sustainability, the Paul Smith collaboration is a statement about identity, heritage, and evolution.