Mini has revealed a new special edition that borrows the visual language of its performance models without matching their output. The 1998 GT Edition is based on the entry-level Cooper C and keeps that car's turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 161 hp. It is priced above the more powerful Cooper S, which makes 201 hp, and only slightly below the 228 hp John Cooper Works flagship.
The name has nothing to do with the year 1998, despite the current appetite for Nineties nostalgia. It refers to the 1,998 cc displacement of the engine under the bonnet, continuing a naming convention that began with the classic Mini 1275 GT in 1969 and was revived with the 1499 GT in 2021. The new model is the sixth of eight Icon Drops special editions planned for 2026, a programme that keeps Mini's colour and trim department occupied with a steady stream of limited-run variants.
Visually, the GT Edition is distinguished by Midnight Black Metallic paint, orange stripes along the flanks, 1998 decals and matching GT emblems on the C-pillars and tailgate. It rides on 17-inch JCW Sprint Spoke alloy wheels finished in black with orange centre caps, and the JCW bodykit adds aerodynamic bumper extensions, side skirts and a roof spoiler. The cabin features JCW Sport Seats upholstered in Black Vescin synthetic leather with a vintage knit pattern, a heated JCW steering wheel with paddle shifters, and 1998 GT badging on the scuff plates, the Miko Box storage compartment between the front seats, the floor mats and the key fob cover.
What the GT Edition does not offer is more power. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder sends 161 hp to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, exactly as in the standard Cooper C. The Cooper S delivers 201 hp and the Cooper JCW 228 hp. Mini has instead focused on chassis changes, fitting a sportier suspension setup and uprated brakes curated by the John Cooper Works division. These are intended to sharpen handling and give the car responses that justify its aggressive appearance, even if straight-line performance remains unchanged.
The pricing reflects the car's exclusivity rather than its output. In the United States, the 2027 Mini 1998 GT Edition starts at $36,875, excluding a $1,350 destination and handling fee. That is more than the Cooper S, which begins at $32,800, and only $2,025 less than the JCW performance flagship at $38,900. Buyers are therefore paying a premium for limited availability, JCW styling and chassis hardware rather than for additional horsepower.
Reservations are now open, with the first deliveries scheduled for this autumn. The GT Edition arrives at a moment when Mini is leaning heavily on special editions to sustain interest in its combustion-engined range, which sits alongside a growing electric line-up. The strategy follows a familiar pattern in the premium small-car market: limited-run trim packages that trade on heritage, design and perceived rarity rather than mechanical upgrades.
For buyers who value distinctiveness over outright pace, the 1998 GT Edition offers a clear proposition. For those who want the quickest Mini, the Cooper S and JCW remain the more logical choices, and both cost less than the new special edition in the case of the S. The GT's appeal rests on its black-and-orange colour scheme, its JCW-derived chassis tuning and the fact that it will be one of only eight Icon Drops variants released this year.