Paul Smith joins the electromod movement

British stripy sock designer Paul Smith has lent his name to a Mini Recharged project, electromodding one of his 1998 Mini Paul Smith Editions.

Mini says Sir Paul is the ‘creative mind behind this collaboration’ and the one-off does appear a striking blend of minimalist exterior and interior with some high-quality, expensive-looking additions to go with the electric drivetrain.

On the hardware front, engineers from ‘Recharged Heritage Limited’ have take the ’98 Mini, ripped out its internal combustion bits and fitted a 72kW electric motor.

A team at Mini’s plant in Oxford, UK, established the Mini Recharge project earlier this year, converting classic Minis to electric drive for big spending clients.

Style first

We’re promised more details will be revealed soon, as no information on the batteries used, the car’s range or performance are mentioned, although we can see the charge point is in place of the rear fuel filler cap.

The style and modernisation of this Brit classic are championed first, as the designer states: “Three things describe this car perfectly: quality, sustainability and functionality.”

This isn’t the first time Smith has embraced a sustainable Mini. Last year he showed off the Mini Strip, a one-off design exercise that began life as a Mini Cooper SE EV but has been pared back and reimagined as a car built for “simplicity, transparency, sustainability.” Bare metal, sustainable/recycled materials, minimal trim… you get the picture.

This new project has instead taken a 1998 Mini Paul Smith Edition – a limited-to-1,800 special edition of the classic mini shape – and “made the car totally relevant for today,” Smith said.

This prototype with classic Mini body sports a bright blue colour – based on a swatch take from one of Paul Smith’s favourite shirts, so you know – while the lime green battery box ‘recalls a 1990s colour palette.’ You’ll notice the rather smart green British map seen on the electric Mini’s grille, too.

Stunning minimalist cabin

The cabin looks suitably expensive. Like the Mini Strip, the newly designed car favours reduction and sustainability. Trim has been chucked out, there’s an unclad floor pan and ‘rustic’ floor mats made of recycled rubber.

We’re told Paul Smith’s design ‘leaves out entire instruments in other places’ while a magnet next to the steering wheel accommodates a smartphone which ‘replaces almost all the old buttons and functions on the dashboard.’ Blessedly, the classic Mini central speedometer remains.

The exposed metalwork, quality-looking switches, door handles, window winders and long metal gear shifter all appear first class, while the steering wheel can be completely removed to facilitate entry and exit. And, well, because it’s a cool thing to do.

“We have made a 1990s car totally relevant for today,” is how the designer describes it. “Ideas are never the problem, you can find them everywhere. The challenge is to implement them. Here it worked. A dream has come true.”

It’s just a one-off prototype, set to be given its world premiere at the Salone del Mobile 2022 in Milan this week. Its price? Let’s not even think about it…