This pair of wide-arched wonders are one-off specials from MINI and lifestyle brand Deus ex Machina. Based on the electric and petrol John Cooper Works (JCW) models, these MINIs are designed to show off the company's styling-led and motorsport ethos.
Can we start with the electric JCW?
Based on the same 258hp drivetrain as the road-going MINI JCW Electric, this one is known as 'The Skeg'. Presumably, this wasn't in honour of the dismal east-coast UK 'holiday' resort of Skegness, but there is a link to the coast and surfing with this one.
Said to be “shaped by surfboards, sea spray and the stripped-back rhythm of beach life”, The Skeg's blistered bodywork includes fibreglass panels - a material widely used in surfing - that are semi-transparent and strip 15 per cent of the car's weight.
Finished in primarily yellow and silver, and with a big white cross on its roof (as well as a couple of straps to make you think of tying down your 'board after a session in the sea), The Skeg also has a 'Flex Tip Surf Spoiler' which apparently responds to airflow in the same way a surfboard rides the contours of a wave.
Inside, the straps from the roof are repeated on the JCW's signature six o'clock spoke of its steering wheel and the decorative trim on the dashboard, which in turn is itself made out of the same materials as surfboards.
And the rest of the stripped-back look inside is supposed to resemble a mobile surf shop, while the deeply sculpted, lightweight racing bucket seats are trimmed in neoprene - the same flexible, water-repellent and comfortable material as you'd find in a wetsuit.
Gnarly. And how about the petrol Deus ex Machina JCW?
This one uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering the same 231hp as the road-going version. It features large and distinctive 'Deus' logos inside and out, just like The Skeg, and another white cross on the roof, but this one has a more purposeful air that “packs a compact punch of raw mechanics and motorsport bloodline”. It's simply called The Machina.
The red, white and black exterior is a direct link to MINI's motorsport past, with wider wings hinting at the company's competition heritage. It also sports a pod of four additional bonnet-mounted headlights, synonymous with the classic Mini's inaugural triumph at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.
At the rear, The Machina wears the same diffuser as the MINI JCW race car which competed at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with this item surrounding the characteristic centre-exit exhaust, while up top is a Can-Am-style roof spoiler. Black steel racing wheels complete the aggressive look.
Inside, The Machina continues the red, white and black theme, complete with five-point racing harnesses for a set of exquisite bucket seats. The raw aluminium floor plates not only offer more grip, but they're also reminiscent of the utilitarian aesthetic you'd find in Deus ex Machina's custom motorcycle shops around the globe. As much weight is stripped out of the MINI JCW as possible, while an exposed roll cage is another feature.
Will either of these be on sale?
No, although there'll be a range of merchandise associated with the 'MINI JCW x Deus' project that will be on display at the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich on September 6.
So we'll leave the final words on these two wild children to Stefan Richmann, the head of MINI, who says: “MINI models have always been characterised by a blend of creative design and motorsport dynamics. Thanks to our collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, we are taking this philosophy to a new level and setting exciting new trends for fans and motorsport enthusiasts. The partners are united by their 'passion for machines, innovation and creativity' and an authentic relationship with their own community.”