MINI Reveals Two Customised JCW cars in Collaboration with Deus Ex Machina

Ahead of the much-awaited IAA Mobility Show 2025 that kicks off today in Munich, BMW-owned iconic British brand MINI reveals two incredibly creative John Cooper Works (JCW) cars in collaboration with lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina in the Bavarian city, which is also BMW’s home turf. According to the German automaker, the two exclusive cars resulting from the collaboration between MINI John Cooper Works and Deus Ex Machina are odes to craftsmanship, culture, and community.

The first of the two cars, strangely named The Skeg, is a MINI John Cooper Works electric with 258 silent horsepower at the tip of your right foot. It is meant to represent the spirit of minimalism and quiet rebellion. Quiet though it may be, thanks to its electric powertrain, visually, it is anything but, thanks to its vivid yellow and silver finish. Bug-eyed and with a blanked-out grille, as is the norm for EVs, The Skeg is nothing if not distinctive. Yet, it’s not a case of all show and no go. Its semi-transparent fibreglass panels help the car become 15 per cent lighter, which also means a dartier nature. The roof-mounted rear spoiler is inspired by a surfboard and reacts to airflow in a similar manner, says MINI. Meanwhile, tension straps across that roof marked with a giant X reference the act of tying down a surfboard.

Bringing surf culture to the inside, The Skeg gets fibreglass trays for wetsuits and neoprene water repellant bucket seats. The dashboard is fibreglass too, and Deus Collection badges and 3D printed details are strewn all over the cabin.

The other, titled The Machina, is loud -- visually or otherwise. The ICE-powered MINI JCW is a celebration song of a glorious motorsport heritage spanning more than 60 years. If the red, white, and black paintwork with the bold accents, the giant X on the roof, and the Deus lettering on the rear don’t grab your eyeball, the four additional headlamps and the wide fenders certainly will. Then there’s that rear diffuser, inspired by the MINI JCW car that had set a record around the old Nordschleife.

Step inside and you know you’re in a purpose-built machine with its 5-point racing harness and raw aluminium floor panels. Weight-saving is built into every surface, from the stripped-back door panels marked with bold white ‘X’ motifs, to the waxed fabric dash - lightweight, durable, and finished with a lived-in patina that speaks to hands-on workmanship. Overhead, the exposed roll cage adds structure and statement in equal measure - a safety feature that nods to the car’s unfiltered racing DNA.

Woven into the partnership is a capsule MINI x Deus Ex Machina apparel collection, set to launch ahead of the IAA in Munich. Designed exclusively for collaboration, the range draws on the shared DNA of both brands, precision engineering, timeless styling, and obsessive attention to detail. High-grade materials and thoughtful tailoring provide the benchmark for the range, which will soon be available worldwide through the Deus Ex Machina retail network and e-commerce platforms.