Is the MINI Strip the greenest car on the planet?

MINI has shone a light on sustainable manufacturing in the automotive industry with the unveiling of the 2021 MINI Strip.

A collaboration between the British manufacturer and UK fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, the Strip is a one-off version of the MINI Electric said to employ “low impact” environmental materials and construction.

As such, the bodywork remains in an unfinished state, the plastics are bare and finishing marks from the factory are still visible.

The MINI Strip also forgoes traditional paint, instead employing a thin transparent coat to prevent corrosion.

Look closely and you can spot the exposed screws used to fix the front splitter and rear apron – both fashioned from recycled plastic. MINI says this is a deliberate move designed to show how easy it is to replace these parts yourself at home.

On the technical front, the Strip debuts a blanked-off radiator grille and new aerodynamic wheel covers – features designed to theoretically increase driving range and lower the car’s environmental impact.

Recycled Perspex has been used for the radiator and wheels as well as the panoramic sunroof.

The drivetrain is believed to have been untouched, meaning a 135kW/270Nm electric motor with a 32.6kWh lithium-ion battery providing a range of up to 233km (WLTP).

Weight-saving and renewable materials dictate the interior layout, which features a new dash topper, fresh door shoulders and a new parcel shelf all made from recycled cork that MINI claims is able to absorb carbon dioxide during its production and doubles as an excellent sound deadener.

Meanwhile, the steering wheel is made from aluminium and is wrapped in handlebar tape used on a road bicycle. Door pulls made from wound-up climbing rope are another unique cue, while the door mats are made from recycled rubber.

The standard MINI Electric’s instrument cluster has been eschewed and the touch-screen’s usual pride of place is now home to a smartphone mount. The interior is free from leather and chrome, while the airbags are left exposed, lined by a see-through mesh.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to rethink the iconic MINI,” said Smith, who is best known for his striped shirts and has done earlier collaborations with MINI and Land Rover.

“I know and love the existing car, but by respecting the past and looking to the future we have created something very special.

“I feel very privileged that the MINI team have given me the confidence and freedom to think laterally about the approach to the design of the car. Together, I think we have created something truly unique, by going back to basics, reducing things down and stripping the car.”

While the MINI Strip has been declared a one-off, you wouldn’t be surprised if some of these manufacturing techniques made their way onto a production model in the future.