The stripped-down Mini Strip is the Magic Mike of cars

Not that the Mini Strip was developed with sportiness in mind. Above all, it should show how far you can go in sustainable design of a car. British fashion designer Paul Smith said he went back to basics and removed all elements that he did not consider necessary for the design.

Mini Strip based on Mini Electric

As mentioned, the Mini Strip is based on the electric Mini Electric, which with its small battery pack of 32.6 kWh does not guarantee an impressive range (read in our test how much you actually have left from the official range of 225 kilometers).

Body Mini Strip is unfinished

Smith wanted to minimize the amount of raw materials used, so he left the Mini Strip's bodywork unfinished. Only a thin layer of transparent paint serves as protection against corrosion. He purposely left grinding marks from the factory on the galvanized steel panels. "The perfect imperfection", Smith calls it.

Recycled plastic and exposed screws

Furthermore, all plastic trim parts are 3D printed from recycled plastic and secured to the body with exposed screws. They show how easy disassembly would be, Smith says. The grille finish, the wheel covers and the panoramic roof are made of recycled Plexiglas.

Your smartphone is the only tool

A normal Mini has a dashboard that is quite over the top, with 'chrome' trim everywhere, a jumble of rounded lines and all kinds of crazy buttons and switches. Little of that remains in the Mini Strip. For example, there is no central display. You simply place your smartphone there, which connects to the car. The only physical buttons are the toggle switches for the power windows and the start/stop function.

The driver looks straight at the airbag

In the interior of the Mini Strip you will not find leather and chrome. Smith has only used recycled materials, such as fabric, rubber and cork. The heart of the steering wheel is striking. It is made of mesh, so you can see the airbag behind it. The same material is used for the door panels. In the interior you can also see all the elements that are normally hidden. The airbag in the roof pillar, for example, or the wiring harness.