MINI Korea launches Paul Smith edition of all-electric Cooper

MINI Korea's all-electric MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith edition vehicles are on display at an exhibition hall in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of MINI Korea

MINI Korea has launched the all-electric MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith edition, blending the brand’s signature spirit with the distinctive creativity of British designer Paul Smith, the carmaker said Thursday.

Limited to 100 vehicles in Korea, the special edition sold out within a month of opening preorders in January. In response to the popularity, MINI Korea said it will secure an additional 300 vehicles to meet the strong demand for the limited edition.

The carmaker will also introduce an internal combustion engine variant of the special edition in the second half of this year.

MINI and Paul Smith, two iconic British brands, have collaborated since 1998, sharing values of craftsmanship and playful design, according to the carmaker.

MINI Korea's MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith edition electric vehicle is displayed at an exhibition hall in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of MINI Korea

The latest edition reflects the long-standing partnership by incorporating Paul Smith’s design aesthetic into both the exterior and interior of the electric MINI Cooper.

The latest model retains MINI’s classic silhouette converged with exclusive colors and refined details. It is offered in three body colors: inspired white, statement grey and midnight black.

The vehicle rides on 18-inch black alloy wheels, while Paul Smith lettering appears on the wheel caps and tailgate handle. A dark steel MINI emblem adds a modern touch, and a “hello” projection greets drivers upon their entry into the vehicle.

A blue-black lower body band — made from recycled fishing nets — highlights the carmaker's sustainability commitment.

Jung Soo-won, head of MINI Korea, speaks during an event to celebrate the launch of its Paul Smith special edition lineup in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

The Paul Smith special edition also includes a series of distinctive interior design features. A textile dashboard is decorated with the signature stripe pattern, and the sports steering wheel carries Paul Smith lettering to differentiate itself as a limited-edition model.

The all-electric MINI Cooper SE Paul Smith edition has a maximum output of 218 horsepower and can reach 100 kilometers per hour in just 6.7 seconds. As a representative electric model for MINI, the vehicle is characterized by its swift responsiveness and fun driving experience.

The vehicle is available for sale at 59.7 million won ($42,000) in Korea.

In March last year, MINI Korea unveiled its all-electric family lineup, including the Cooper, Countryman and Aceman, to make deeper inroads into the nation’s compact electric vehicle (EV) market.

The carmaker sold a total of 1,889 all-electric vehicles last year alone. This accounts for around 24 percent out of the carmaker’s total auto sales in Korea during the same period.

“MINI Korea is solidifying its presence as a premium compact vehicle maker here, as evidenced by strong sales growth since our inroads into Korea back in 2005,” Jung Soo-won, head of MINI Korea.

“We are now rapidly responding to the market change with EVs taking up a quarter of our total vehicle sales here.”