Special edition hatch set for Oz 

Tim Gibson

News Journalist

2 min read

A new special edition Mini that will launch in Australia in early 2026. 

The price is yet to be revealed, but Mini has released some details on the car at the Japan Mobility Show ahead of its March 2026 release date. 

The Mini Paul Smith edition is a nod back to 1997 when fashion designer Sir Paul Smith wrapped a classic Mini Cooper in his trademark striped design, which was limited to 1800 cars.

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He returned to the brand in 2021 to help design the Mini Electric featuring recycled and natural materials.

The Paul Smith edition comes with unique 18-inch alloy wheels, and a standout green roof.

It is available in three-door and five-door options, while buyers can also opt for a convertible spec.

Sir Paul Smith’s signature appears on the rear handle strip as an added touch along with his lettering on the wheel hubs. 

2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition
2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition

The car gets two distinct paint finishes as well as the already-available metallic black.

‘Statement Grey’ is designed to be a modern interpretation of the grey painted on the 1959 Mini Austin Seven, while ‘Inspired White’ is based on the classic Mini beige.  

On the interior, in addition to more Smith-themed branding, is a flamboyant circular digital entertainment display in the centre of the car.

2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition
2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition

The current Mini Cooper range features three-door and five-door variants that start from $41,990 and $43,990 (before on-road costs) respectively, while there are also convertible and electric options. 

Both starting variants have a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that has 115kW and 230Nm, driven by a seven-speed dual clutch auto to the front wheels

The top-spec JCW starts from $67,990 (before on-road costs) and gets more grunt with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 170kW and 380Nm.

2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition
2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith edition

The Mini Cooper has been a confident seller as a premium hatch in Australia, with nearly 40 per cent of sales as of September 2025, fending off competition from Volkswagen’s Polo and Audi’s A1

The Paul Smith edition will launch at the start of a busy 2026 for Mini, with its updated 2026 Cooper three-door, five-door and convertible variants releasing later in the year.

Tim Gibson

News Journalist

Tim could not get enough of UK Top Gear as a kid and took from his Dad, who worked at Jaguar before moving over to Australia. Tim’s journalism career began at age 15 as a local reporter for Football South Coast before he branched into live commentary with Football New South Wales. He reports on national competitions and the Socceroos with Football Australia, and also covered the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with The Football Sack. He studied a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Wollongong, featuring in the top five per cent of students, and graduating with distinction. Tim completed an internship in the ABC’s Wollongong office, then undertook regular paid shifts until he completed his degrees. Tim started his full-time journalism career at CarsGuide, working as a News Journalist covering a range of automotive topics from electric vehicles to legal issues. Education University of Wollongong | Bachelor of Journalism with distinction | 2020-2025 University of Wollongong | Bachelor of Laws | 2020-2025 Featured Publications Football South Coast | 2018-present Football New South Wales | 2019-present South Coast Flame FC | 2021-2022 Football Australia | 2023-present UOW TV | 2021-2025 The Football Sack | 2022-2023 ABC Illawarra | 2023-2025 CarsGuide | 2025-present
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