MINI is bringing one of its most recognizable performance-inspired nameplates back to the U.S., this time with a modern twist. The automaker has unveiled the limited-edition MINI 1998 GT Edition, a special version of the MINI Cooper C 2 Door that combines classic GT heritage with contemporary John Cooper Works-inspired hardware and styling.

The 1998 GT Edition is the sixth installment in MINI’s eight-part Icon Drops series, a collection of limited-edition models designed around the idea of automotive “drops” borrowed from sneaker culture. Production is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with the first cars expected to reach U.S. MINI dealers in November.

The name is a direct reference to the MINI’s 1,998cc turbocharged engine, while the GT badge connects the new model to two earlier members of MINI’s performance heritage: the classic Mini 1275 GT and the later MINI 1499 GT.

The original 1275 GT arrived in 1969 with a 1,275cc engine, representing MINI’s idea that a small car could still deliver a more performance-focused driving experience. More than five decades later, MINI revived the concept with the 1499 GT. The new 1998 GT Edition effectively becomes the third generation of that GT lineage, bringing the formula into the current MINI era.

A black-and-orange MINI with plenty of GT attitude

The 1998 GT Edition is based on the MINI Cooper C 2 Door and gets a considerably more distinctive appearance than the standard car.

MINI has chosen Midnight Black Metallic for the body, paired with bold orange lower-body graphics and “1998 GT” lettering. The edition also gets dedicated GT badging and matching orange accents, giving the otherwise dark exterior a sharp contrast.

The visual changes continue with 17-inch John Cooper Works Sprint Spoke Black wheels and a John Cooper Works aero kit. MINI says the combination is intended to give the compact Cooper a more motorsport-inspired character without turning it into a full John Cooper Works model.

The result is a MINI that leans heavily into the visual language of its GT predecessors while remaining unmistakably part of the latest-generation Cooper lineup.

JCW hardware underneath

The 1998 GT Edition isn’t just a cosmetic package.

MINI equips the car with several John Cooper Works-inspired performance components, including JCW suspension and brakes, along with paddle shifters and a seven-speed sport transmission. The model retains the 1,998cc turbocharged engine, giving the special edition a performance-oriented mechanical setup to complement its appearance.

That makes the 1998 GT Edition an interesting middle ground in the Cooper lineup. It takes hardware and design cues associated with MINI’s hotter JCW models while remaining based on the Cooper C 2 Door.

The GT theme continues inside

MINI carries the special-edition treatment into the cabin with a set of details that would be easy to miss individually but collectively make the 1998 GT Edition different from a regular Cooper.

The car gets JCW Sport Seats finished in Black Vescin with Black Knit, along with a heated three-spoke JCW steering wheel featuring exclusive GT badging. Unique 1998 GT floor mats and door sills add further branding, while a GT-specific key fob cover and center-console storage box complete the theme.

It is a fairly classic special-edition approach: take an existing model, give it a distinctive identity, then sprinkle the theme throughout the places owners see every day.

A limited MINI built around the “Icon Drop” idea

MINI’s 1998 GT Edition isn’t arriving as a conventional trim level. It’s part of the brand’s MINI Icon Drops campaign, which treats special-edition cars more like limited cultural releases.

The 1998 GT is the sixth of eight planned U.S. Icon Drops. Previous editions have included the 1965 Victory Edition, Red Line Edition, Paul Smith Editions, Heritage Edition and Rooftop Editions. MINI says each drop is designed around its own reveal, launch moment and limited availability.

The approach also fits neatly with MINI’s long history of special editions. The brand has been creating limited and themed models since the 1960s, long before the word “drop” became part of the vocabulary surrounding limited sneakers and collectibles.

The timing is particularly appropriate because 2026 marks 25 years since the modern MINI was launched, giving the brand another reason to look back at its history while continuing to evolve the current lineup.

Pricing and availability

The MINI 1998 GT Edition starts at $36,875 in the U.S., before the $1,350 destination and handling charge, taxes, registration and other fees. MINI’s listed configuration includes the Midnight Black Metallic exterior, Black Vescin and Black Knit interior, Signature Plus Trim with Comfort Package, John Cooper Works Style, 17-inch JCW Sprint Spoke Black wheels and the JCW aero kit.

MINI says production will begin in October 2026, with a limited number of vehicles expected to arrive at U.S. dealers beginning in November. The company is already accepting reservations for the model.

For MINI, the 1998 GT Edition is less about creating another conventional trim and more about turning a familiar compact car into a small piece of the brand’s history. It takes the name and spirit of the GT models that came before it, adds modern JCW hardware and contemporary styling, and packages everything into one of the company’s limited U.S. Icon Drops.

In other words, the MINI 1998 GT is a modern GT tribute that doesn’t need a huge footprint to make its presence known.