The MINI STRIP is a concept vehicle born from a collaboration between MINI and designer Sir Paul Smith. While most concept vehicles achieve a wow factor with outrageous design and futuristic technology, the MINI STRIP aims for a less is more approach. The MINI STRIP is constructed from recyclable, sustainable materials with a minimalist design element. According to MINI, the three main themes for this concept were transparency, simplicity, and sustainability. Sir Paul Smith took inspiration from Sir Alec Issigonis, the man who designed the original MINI, to create a concept that respects the past while projecting the future.
The MINI STRIP is based on the current MINI Cooper SE. The car’s exterior is unpainted, wearing its bare metal, and the transparent roof is 3D-printed using recycled Perspex. The frame at the top is bright blue to add color. Things get even more dramatic inside. The MINI STRIP interior features sustainable cork on the door panels. Sir Paul Smith is a bicycle enthusiast, so the steering wheel is wrapped in grip tape like handlebars. There are also no screens on the dashboard, only a docking port to place a smartphone. This concept is more art than car, but it showcases the potential in 3D printing trim pieces from recycled plastics.
For another vehicle built with sustainability in mind, check out the Bentley EXP 100 GT.