MINI’s Wild One-Off JCW Creations with Deus Ex Machina Combine Surfboard Culture and Speed

MINI’s latest collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, the Australian brand famous for handmade motorcycles and a laid-back lifestyle, takes head-turning to new levels. Two bespoke John Cooper Works (JCW) models – one electric and one gas-powered – are on show at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich. These one-off cars, called The Skeg and The Machina, combine MINI’s racing heritage with the carefree spirit of surf culture and motorsport toughness.

Bright yellow and silver paint is the first thing that grabs your attention, a nod to the fibreglass surfboards that inspired The Skeg. This electric JCW, based on the MINI Cooper SE platform, has 258 horsepower and weighs 15% less due to the use of lightweight fiberglass panels. These semi-transparent panels shimmer in the light and cover the nose, fenders, roof and rear of the car, giving it an otherworldly look. Wide fenders and an illuminated front grille make it stance, and the Flex Tip Surf Spoiler, inspired by a surfboard’s concave belly, directs the airflow.

Inside, The Skeg is a mobile surf shop. The racing bucket seats are covered in neoprene fabric, like a wetsuit. The interior is lined with custom shaped fiberglass trays to store surf gear, functionality and beachy beauty. A big white ‘X’ on the roof, dashboard and steering wheel ties the design together, like the tension straps that secure surfboards. Analog controls are simple, with tactile switches that prioritize function over flash. Deus Collection logos and 3D printed console trim add a touch of elegance while grounding the car in a shared culture of creation.

While The Skeg cruises on electric calm, The Machina roars with the heart of a traditional racer. This gas powered JCW has a 2.0 litre four cylinder engine with 231 horsepower and a 7 speed auto, a nod to MINI’s racing heritage – 3 Monte Carlo wins in the 60s. The red, white and black paint job has a big Deus logo on the rear diffuser and 4 extra headlights on the bonnet, like historic rally cars. Perforated headlight bezels and a custom grille improve cooling, and the Can-Am style rear spoiler adds downforce and a dash of motorsport nostalgia.

The Machina confirms its racing roots inside the cabin, as the door panels are stripped back with white ‘X’ patterns that match the roof, and the waxed fabric dashboard has an aged patina that looks homemade. An exposed roll cage with 5 point racing harnesses holds the driver in place, and the raw aluminium floor plates lift the bucket seats for optimal pedal positioning. A hydraulic handbrake and toggle switches give you a direct mechanical connection to the car’s soul. Every aspect, from the reduced controls to the Deus-branded steering wheel, is purposeful performance. This is a car that wants to be driven fast, especially with the sound of gravel under the tyres.

Both cars were created in collaboration between MINI’s design team, BMW Group’s Designworks and Deus Ex Machina’s creative team led by Carby Tuckwell and artist Matt Willey. Willey, a Brooklyn-based designer who specialises in classic motorsport liveries, drew on his experience from a 2023 project where he recreated a Mini Cooper S with Monte Carlo Rally-inspired graphics. His geometric designs – numbers, stripes and that X – tie The Skeg and The Machina together despite their vastly different personalities. The result is two cars that feel both timeless and brutally modern, rough over polished homogeneity.

We don’t know what happens to these one-off cars after Munich. Given their uniqueness and the hype they’ve generated, a collector’s auction isn’t surprising. For now they show MINI can combine its racing heritage with surf culture and still be true to its playful, rebellious spirit. If you want to build your own, MINI’s current lineup – which starts at $29,500 for the Cooper two-door and goes up to $46,900 for the Countryman ALL4 – has plenty of blank canvas to play with.
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