Most brands build concept cars to imagine the future. In this case, however, MINI uses them to celebrate its heritage while breaking the rules of styling. The MINI John Cooper Works x Deus Ex Machina collab delivers two one-off hot hatches full of raw enthusiasm. One takes its spirit from the surf, the other from the racetrack, but both are pure MINI, pure JCW, and pure fun.
Electric or Combustion, Both Pure JCW
MINI JCW and Deus Ex Machina seem like an unlikely pair. One is the performance arm of a historic carmaker, the other a lifestyle brand built around custom bikes, surfboards, and café culture. But look closer and you’ll find common ground: a love for machines and the pop culture that unites passionate communities.
The result is two cars that are kindred in spirit yet polar opposites in character. Each one is a rolling expression of MINI’s racing bloodline blended with Deus’ freewheeling creativity. Both carry the same visual signature: a bold white “X” on the roof, symbolising collaboration, co-creation, and crossing boundaries.
The Skeg: Inspired by the Coast
The first concept, called The Skeg, is an electric MINI JCW with 258hp on tap. But it’s not a typical EV with fancy lifestyle touches. Instead, it’s a surf-inspired hot hatch built around minimalism and movement.
The Skeg wears a bold yellow and silver paint job, showing MINI’s modern electric side while keeping the fun alive. Wide fenders and a roof spoiler give it a sporty look, while fiberglass panels cut 15% of the weight. At the back, the Flex Tip Surf Spoiler works like a surfboard, guiding airflow and improving performance.
The surf vibe runs through the whole car. Roof straps look like surfboard tie-downs, the fiberglass dashboard is built like a board, and the rear trays are made to hold wetsuits. Inside, racing seats covered in neoprene — the same material used in wetsuits — are waterproof, flexible, and comfortable.
The controls are kept simple and hands-on, with raw finishes instead of glossy trim. Put simply, The Skeg is more like a surf shack on wheels, built for both beach and road.
The Machina: Motorsport DNA
If The Skeg is about calm and flow, The Machina is about power and speed. It’s a 231hp JCW MINI hot hatch that lives and breathes MINI’s racing heritage.
The red, white, and black paint gives it a pure race-car look. Wide fenders and a Deus-branded rear add attitude, while four rally-style spotlights on the bonnet pay tribute to MINI’s rally history. At the back, a race-style diffuser, center exhaust, and a retro Can-Am rear wing complete the aggressive design.
Carbon fibre bucket seats, five-point harnesses, and a bare-metal finish strip away comfort for pure racing focus. Aluminium floor plates are inspired by Deus’ bike workshops, and a hydraulic handbrake acts as a fun little element. An exposed roll cage strengthens the chassis and shows off its no-nonsense character. The Skeg takes you to the coast; The Machina drags you to the track.
From Design to Drive
This wasn’t just a quick paint job. MINI Design and BMW’s Designworks joined forces with Deus’ creative director Carby Tuckwell and acclaimed designer Matt Willey to shape every curve, cut, and graphic. The outcome? Cars that look like siblings without ever feeling identical.
Willey’s love for historic motorsport liveries shines through, tying the pair to MINI’s rallying legends and motorsport victories — most notably the Monte Carlo Rally triumphs of the ’60s.
MINI x Deus at IAA 2025
The MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina collaboration goes further than two one-off hot hatches. The Skeg and The Machina make their world debut at IAA Mobility 2025 (Sept 6–14) at the MINI Pavilion.
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