Mini’s Designer-Themed Cooper Arrives in America

After debuting at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, Mini Paul Smith Edition is now officially available in the US, following Mini’s earlier confirmation. The American launch took place at the Paul Smith Melrose store in Los Angeles, which makes sense for a car that’s as much about fashion as it is about British motoring.

This isn’t the first time Mini and Sir Paul Smith have teamed up – their partnership goes back almost three decades. Some might remember the limited-edition classic Mini from the late ‘90s, the bright anniversary concepts, or the pared-down Mini Strip from five years ago.

For 2026, the Paul Smith Edition keeps things familiar, using Smith’s “classic with a twist” style on the current Cooper lineup instead of starting from scratch. So if you’ve been waiting for this stylish Mini to show up in America, now’s your chance. Just be ready for a price that might give you pause.

What Exactly Do You Get?

You can get the Paul Smith Edition on the Mini Cooper 2-Door, 4-Door, or Convertible. The look is more about small details than flashy colors. There’s a choice of Statement Grey, Inspired White, or Midnight Black Metallic, with Nottingham Green accents on the mirrors, grille, wheel hubs, and optional roof graphics – a nod to Paul Smith’s hometown. It also comes with unique 18-inch Night Flash Spoke Black wheels.

Inside, there are Nightshade Blue sport seats in Vescin, a knitted dashboard, Paul Smith’s signature stripe on the steering wheel, and special display themes for the round infotainment screen. There’s also a handwritten “Hello” projected onto the pavement when you open the door, a rabbit graphic on the floor mat, and “Every day is a new beginning” etched into the door sill.

And Then There’s The Pricing

The Paul Smith Edition is only available on gas-powered Cooper models with the Iconic Trim package, so you’re already looking at a higher starting price before adding the special edition. In the US, the Paul Smith package itself costs another $1,400, but you need to add the $4,100 Iconic Trim first.

So a base Cooper 2-Door jumps from $29,500 to $35,000, and a Cooper S Convertible comes in at $43,400 before destination and fees. For what’s mainly a styling and exclusivity package, that’s a big step up. But then, designer collaborations are almost never cheap. Pre-orders start June 3, and cars should reach dealers in early August.

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Street Trucks Are So Back

It started with the Ford Maverick Lobo, which quietly reopened the door for the street truck segment after years of dormancy. Then Ford doubled down with the F-150 Lobo, giving fans a lowered, sportier full-size pickup powered by a 400-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 mill. Not too shabby. But if there’s one thing guaranteed in the American truck market, it’s that competition never stays quiet for long.

Stellantis is officially entering the conversation with the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee, a new lineup of V8-powered “muscle trucks” designed to bring back the kind of performance pickups that disappeared after the mid-2000s. And unlike Ford’s more appearance-focused Lobo formula, Ram is determined to go much further.

And yes, it’s a whole lineup of V8-powered Rumble Bee trucks (hence, the name), starting with a 395-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8, moving up to a 470-hp 6.4-liter 392 HEMI, and topping out with a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 making 777 hp in the Rumble Bee SRT. Ram says the flagship can hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and run an 11.6-second quarter mile, which puts it in serious performance car territory.

More Than Just a Styling Package

Previewed by last year’s visually loud SEMA Concepts, the Rumble Bee feels much more aggressive mechanically compared to the Ford F-150 Lobo. The latter mainly focuses on street-oriented styling and suspension tweaks, while Ram redesigned major chassis components specifically for performance driving.

The truck features a unique Quad Cab short-bed layout with a 13-inch shorter wheelbase. Ram says the reduction improves rigidity and sharpens handling response. Wider tracks, Bilstein Performance Dampers, massive stabilizer bars, and available air suspension also help set it apart from a standard Ram 1500.

The SRT model takes things even further with 325-section rear tires mounted on 22-by-12-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, launch control, adaptive dampers, and a dedicated rear-wheel-drive mode. Ram even engineered aerodynamic aids like a front splitter, rear spoiler, and underbody aero shielding to keep the truck stable at its claimed 170-mph top speed.

Interestingly, Ram still wants the Rumble Bee to function like a truck. Depending on trim, towing capacity reaches 8,890 pounds while payload tops out at 1,160 pounds.

Loud Looks, Driver-Focused Cabin

The Rumble Bee lineup clearly takes inspiration from old-school muscle trucks, especially the original Ram SRT10. Widebody fenders, aggressive fascias, functional hood vents, and oversized wheels give the truck a much meaner stance than a regular Ram 1500.

The hotter 392 Track Pack and SRT variants get even more dramatic with deep front splitters, larger grille openings, unique spoilers, and optional graphics packages. Ram also revived the angry bee logo with different variations depending on trim level. The top-spec SRT gets black-and-orange accents that tie into the orange-painted Hellcat engine block.

Inside, the muscle truck theme continues with flat-bottom steering wheels, paddle shifters, bucket seats, and performance pages built into the Uconnect system. Higher trims add suede, carbon fiber trim, upgraded audio systems, and larger portrait-style touchscreens.

Hotter Models Arriving Next Year

The 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee will be built in Saltillo, Mexico. Production starts with the 5.7-liter HEMI model in late 2026, while the 392 and SRT variants arrive sometime in the first half of 2027. Ram hasn’t announced pricing yet, though the SRT will almost certainly sit deep into premium performance territory like the circa $100,000 Ram TRX SRT.

What’s interesting is how quickly the street truck segment has escalated. Ford reopened the conversation with the Maverick Lobo and F-150 Lobo, but Ram just answered with a 777-hp supercharged pickup that feels closer to a modern-day SRT10 successor than a simple appearance package.

If this is where the new muscle truck era is headed, the horsepower wars are probably just getting started.

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Rivian’s More Attainable EV Finally Takes Shape

The R2’s specs may have leaked early, but the official reveal shows there’s a lot more to this electric SUV than what first hit the internet.

The R2 is a big deal for Rivian. While the R1T pickup and R1S SUV helped establish the brand, both sit firmly in premium territory with prices well north of $70,000. The R2 is meant to be the more mainstream offering – something for buyers who want Rivian’s design and capability but can’t quite stretch their budget to the larger models.

First out of the gate is the R2 Performance with Launch Package, starting at $57,990. It’s a limited-run setup, but Rivian didn’t hold back on features or capability.

Standard kit covers semi-active suspension, a premium cabin with birch wood accents, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 975-watt Rivian Premium Audio system. There are also some Launch Package-only details, like Compass Yellow brake calipers and unique trim pieces.

Now that the full specs are out, there’s plenty to unpack.

Performance, Range, and Capability

In Performance trim with Launch Package, the R2 comes with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that produces 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque. Rivian estimates the SUV can sprint from 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds, which places it firmly in performance EV territory. Highway acceleration looks strong, with the company quoting a 50–70 mph time of just 1.55 seconds.

The Performance model is expected to deliver up to 330 miles of EPA-estimated range. The R2 comes with a native NACS charge port, meaning it can plug directly into Tesla’s Supercharger network. Other charging networks are supported through a CCS adapter.

Despite being smaller and lighter than the R1 models – nearly 2,000 pounds lighter, according to Rivian – the R2 still carries serious off-road credentials. Key specs include:

• 9.6 inches of ground clearance
• 25-degree approach angle
• 26-degree departure angle
• Up to 4,400 pounds of towing capacity

Drive modes cover the basics – All-Purpose and Conserve – but also branch out to Snow, All-Terrain, Soft Sand, and Rally. The Performance trim even gets its own Launch Mode for maximum acceleration.

Adventure-Focused Design and Practical Interior

Design-wise, the R2 keeps Rivian’s signature look – oval headlights, full-width light bar – but the shape is more compact and city-friendly. At 185.9 inches long and with a 115.6-inch wheelbase, it sits below the R1S in the lineup.

Rivian is introducing several new exterior colors specifically for the R2, including Catalina Cove, Esker Silver, and Half Moon Grey. These join existing shades such as Midnight, Glacier White, and Forest Green.

Wheels range from 19-inch all-seasons to 21-inch range-focused designs. There’s also a 20-inch all-terrain package with BF Goodrich tires for anyone planning to leave the pavement behind.

Inside, the cabin sticks to Rivian’s minimalist style but adds natural materials and practical touches for adventure. Higher trims get two premium interior themes:

• Black Crater Signature, inspired by volcanic rock tones
• Coastal Cloud Signature, a lighter palette with airy textures

R2 storage is generous at 90.1 cubic feet, with a 5.2-cubic-foot front trunk that fits a carry-on and a backpack. The rear drop glass window is a highlight – it drops fully into the liftgate, so you can slide in longer gear like surfboards or lumber without leaving the tailgate open.

Software-Heavy Technology

The R2 uses an updated electrical architecture that supports more computing power and future over-the-air updates. Rivian says the vehicle will continue gaining new features long after delivery. A multi-sensor perception system includes 11 HDR cameras with a combined 65 megapixels, along with a five-radar setup for driver assistance systems.

The available Autonomy+ driver assistance suite supports hands-free driving across more than 3.5 million miles of roads in the US and Canada. Buyers can subscribe for $49.99 per month or purchase the feature outright for $2,500.

Rivian also redesigned the steering wheel, adding haptic halo dials that mix physical controls with tactile feedback for adjusting settings.

Inside the cabin, drivers get two main displays: a driver screen behind the steering wheel and a larger central infotainment display. The vehicle also includes 200 TOPS of edge AI computing power, which Rivian plans to use for future features, including its upcoming in-vehicle voice assistant.

Other R2 Trims and Pricing

Beyond the Launch Edition Performance model, Rivian has confirmed additional trims for the R2 lineup, as revealed in the leaked info.

The R2 Premium arrives later in 2026, starting at $53,990. It uses a dual-motor AWD setup producing 450 hp and 537 lb-ft, with a 0–60 mph time of 4.6 seconds and up to 330 miles of range.

A more affordable R2 Standard follows in 2027, starting at $48,490. This version features a single-motor rear-wheel-drive layout with 350 hp, a 5.9-second 0–60 time, and up to 345 miles of estimated range.

Rivian also plans an even cheaper Standard variant later in 2027, priced around $45,000 and with more than 275 miles of range, squarely competing against Tesla Model Y Premium trims.

Still Cheaper Than the R1 Lineup

Just in case you’re wondering where the R2 sits in Rivian’s pricing ladder, the Launch Edition is not exactly an affordable EV, but it is still well below the company’s current models. The cheapest R1S currently listed in Rivian’s inventory starts at $76,990, and that’s for a Dual Standard configuration. That gap highlights the role the R2 will play in Rivian’s lineup as the more attainable entry point to the brand.

Deliveries for the R2 Launch Edition begin in Spring 2026. Reservations are already open with a $100 refundable deposit.

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