So bummed about the Island Blue paint only being offered as part of a package on the SE. Can others verify this?
And to get Island Blue it appears you also must accept those wimpy stripes as part of the Electric Collection package. Island Blue is not a new color for MINI, so they're just being stingy by forcing customers to choose the Electric Collection package to get it on a MINI Cooper SE.
We know that MINI just installed a new painting system in Plant Oxford for the 2022 models. Here's my imagined scenario: Head designer, Oliver Heilmer, came from Germany to check out the new painting system. After a conversation with the technicians who installed it he asked, "From what you've told me, this system makes it possible to spray 3 colors of paint onto the roof at the same time, right?"
In my imagined scenario, I see Mr. Heilmer experimenting to decide what 3 colors would look good together. After going through a dozen body shells, he settled on San Marino Blue for the front of the roof, Pearly Aqua for the middle and Jet Black for the rear. "Obviously," he thought, "the best body color to go with my 'Multitone' roof is Island Blue."
"I've achieved perfection!" he declared. "I would be sad if someone chose Island Blue but did not want my 'Multitone' roof. Therefore the 4 colors will be bonded together as the 'Electric Collection'!" To keep costs under control, MINI's bean counters ruled that the Electric Collection would be available only with the Signature Plus trim.
I'll work up another imaginary scenario after MINI reveals the Rooftop Grey Electric Collection Signature Plus MINI Cooper SE. We don't yet know if that car also has a "Multitone" roof.