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A CLASSIC MADE ELECTRIC.
THE UPDATED 1998 PAUL SMITH EDITION.
Iconic British designer Paul Smith is all about innovation – that’s just one of the things he and MINI have in common. So we joined forces once again to reinvent his 1998 classic Mini, swapping its combustion engine for an electric motor as part of the magnificent MINI Recharged upcycling project.
FROM VINTAGE TO VOLTAGE.
Let’s take it back to 1998.
Google is founded. The Titanic takes over at the Oscars. Michael Owen scored that goal against Argentina. Oh, and our year’s highlight, we launch the Paul Smith Edition – a classic blue hued Mini envisioned by the iconic designer. With only 1,800 of these beauties ever made, they go down in history as one of the most distinctive limited-edition Minis. But in classic Paul Smith style, he wasn’t quite happy leaving it there…
In 2021, he came to us with big plans to reinvent this old classic, getting rid of the combustion engine and replacing it with a shiny new electric motor. So that’s exactly what we did. After stripping back the original interior - there are no levers on the steering wheel, no 90s speakers and a redesigned speedometer – the 1998 car got its ‘heart transplant’ at a workshop in Bristol. Finally, we gave the inside a sustainable makeover. It was out with plastic and leather, and in with seat coverings made from recycled textiles and floor mats of recycled rubber.
OUR PIONEERING PROJECT.
Paul has MINI Recharged to thank for making his electric dreams possible. Created in partnership with company Recharged Heritage Limited, this pioneering project gives a new lease of life to classic Minis. They strip out the combustion engine and replace it with a modern, 72-kilowatt electric engine. So it’s got all the charm of the classic but with zero driving emissions. It really is the best of both worlds.
BIG LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
Driving an electric car is better for the environment because they release zero emissions when you drive. This is good news when it comes to combating climate change and local air pollution – helping make the air we breathe cleaner and healthier.
Another bonus of MINI Recharged? No new vehicles are being produced. That’s no new materials needed for the exterior and less total energy required to create the electric car. Instead, much-loved existing cars are starting a second, more sustainable life.
Futureproofing our sustainability strategy is just part of our Big Love goal to make the planet and its people happier. You can find out loads more about it at our Big Love Hub below. And if you’re thinking about making the electric switch, you can check out the all-electric MINI Cooper, too.
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