When you think of Mini, you imagine go-kart handling and cheeky styling. Now imagine adding surfboards and rally lamps to that mix. That’s exactly what Mini and fashion brand Deus Ex Machina have done for the 2025 Munich Auto Show, cooking up two very different one-off concepts based on the new John Cooper Works.
Highlights
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Two Mini JCW concepts revealed with Deus Ex Machina
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“The Machina” channels Mini’s rally racing heritage
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“The Skeg” borrows inspiration from surf culture
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One runs a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, the other is all-electric
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Both are one-offs for the Munich Auto Show, not for production
The Machina: Rally Spirit Revived
Finished in red, white, and black, The Machina pays homage to Mini’s rally heroes. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 231 bhp and 320 Nm, good for roughly 240 kmph if we go by standard JCW figures. It wears hood-mounted lamps, wider arches, a chunky diffuser with a single exhaust, and those quirky mirrors that look both retro and modern.
Inside, weight-saving is the theme. Carbon fibre sport seats, composite door panels, and a pared-back cabin are contrasted by a giant central touchscreen that refuses to leave the 21st century. Toggle switches nod to classic racers, while everything else screams “fast but functional.”
The Skeg: Surf Meets EV
On the other side, The Skeg rides the wave of surf culture—literally. Based on the electric JCW, it packs a 258 bhp motor (torque unconfirmed) and gets semi-transparent fibreglass body panels that shave off about 15% weight compared to the regular car. The spoiler’s shape is modelled after the concave underside of a surfboard, because why not?
The cabin is equally beach-ready. Neoprene seat covers laugh at seawater, while integrated fibreglass trays are perfect for stashing soggy wetsuits. Surfboard-inspired inserts run across the cabin, making it feel more Malibu shack than Munich auto hall.
Key Details
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The Machina → 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, 231 bhp, 320 Nm, rally-inspired styling
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The Skeg → Electric, 258 bhp, surf-inspired design, 15% lighter body kit
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Both are concept-only, no production plans
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Public debut at Munich Auto Show, 9 September 2025
Verdict
Mini and Deus Ex Machina have basically built a petrolhead’s split personality. One half dreams of rally stages, the other dreams of catching waves. Neither is headed to showrooms, but both prove that the Mini JCW still has plenty of room for playful reinvention.
