Two icons, two philosophies, one obsession: speed. The Skeg (electric and surf wax) and The Machina (petrol and hydraulic manual) are a pair of unique JCWs, built for enthusiasts who live between the waves and the apex. This is the MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina.
MINI and MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina in Munich, they unveiled a duet of unique John Cooper Works: electric JCW with up to 190 kW (258 hp) and petrol JCW with 170 kW (231 hp). They both wear big white “X” on the roof – a seal of co-authorship and a salute to the culture of personalization that has accompanied MINI from Monte Carlo to today's "car-park cafes". "Raw, handcrafted approach," designers say – less polish, more truth.
The Skeg: electric JCW with plug-in surf soul
Electric The Skeg It plays on silence and surfing technique. The bodywork glows in a yellow-silver combination, while the wide fenders and illuminated grille announce an “electro” of its own making. The key trick? Semi-transparent fiberglass panelswith which the show car lighter by 15 %, aerodynamically “cleaner” and visually more “sunset in Biarritz”. Rear Flex Tip Surf Spoiler it directs air like the concave underside of a board – an aesthetic that gets the job done.
For reference: serial MINI John Cooper Works Electric offers 190 kW (258 hp) and 350 Nm (258 lb‑ft) and accelerate 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.9 s; the final speed is 200 km/h (124 mph). Battery: 54.2 kWh gross (49.2 kWh net). Charging: 11 kW AC ~5 h 15 min (0–100 %) and 95 kW DC ~30 min (10-80 %)WLTP range: up to 371 km (≈230 mi)The numbers give a good measure – The Skeg complement them with materials and playful function.
Inside The Skeg: a mobile surf shop
Analog buttons, tension straps on the roof and cabin (like you just tied a 6'2 fish), neoprene on lightweight shell seats (flexible, water-repellent and comfortable), and fiberglass dashboard according to the recipe for making boards. Details - markings Deus Collection and a 3D-printed element – hold the story together. The emphasis is on tangibility and purpose, not bling.
The Machine: gasoline, roar and hydraulic manual
If The Skeg "tide", is The Machine “second to brake”. Four additional lights on the hood are reminiscent of rally, flared fenders and rear diffuser drawing inspiration from the JCW Nordschleife race car, center exhaust and make sure the neighbors know when you're going to get bread. On top of that, Can-Am the style of the rear wing – when racing was even more of a “bourgeois madness”.
For orientation: serial MINI John Cooper Works (petrol) develops 170 kW (231 hp) and 380 Nm (280 lb‑ft), 0–100 km/h done in 6.1 seconds, it is final 250 km/h (155 mph). V The Machines they also say: 5-point harnesses, open safety arch, waxed cloth on the armature (patina instead of piano lacquer), raw aluminum floor panels and hydraulic manual – a direct connection between thought and the rear wheels. No menus, no submenus, just a switch → action. +
Graphics, heritage and no. 37
The visual story – numbers, geometry and color blocks – was co-created by Matt Willey (Pentagram; former art director NYT Magazine), long-time Deus collaborator Carby Tuckwell and curated the language of graphics. They sit shoulder to shoulder Monte Carlo memory and glory number 37 Sir Paddy Hopkirk from 1964 – that “winning” DNA that Mini still wears like a badge today. “Every detail is hand-polished,” they say at MINI Design.
A capsule you can wear
The partnership doesn't stop at the sheet metal. MINI x Deus is preparing capsule collection – tailored with obsessive attention to detail – with world premiere on September 8, 2025 at the IAA in Munich, then globally through Deus e-commerce and stores. Aesthetics? Technical yet timeless; a lifestyle that breathes motorsport.
When, where, how close
World premiere the duo will be on MINI JCW x DEUS Night, September 6th, v MINI Pavilion, but the exhibition remains until September 14. IAA MOBILITY 2025 officially running 9.–14. 9. (press day 8. 9.), with “Open Space” around the center of Munich – so plenty of opportunities to catch them live. Both cars are show cars and are not for sale.
Specifications that count (reference JCW production models)
- JCW Electric: 190 kW (258 hp), 350 Nm (258 lb‑ft), 0-100 km/h 5.9 s (0-62 mph 5.9 s), 200 km/h (124 mph); battery 54.2/49.2 kWh (gross/net); 95 kW DC (10–80 % ≈ 30 minutes), 11 kW AC (0–100 % ≈ 5 hours 15 minutes); WLTP up to 371 km (≈230 mi)
- JCW (petrol): 170 kW (231 hp), 380 Nm (280 lb‑ft), 0–100 km/h 6.1 seconds, 250 km/h (155 mph); WLTP consumption 6.5–6.8 l/100 km, EU6e.
"You can be first after me." – a slogan that says it all: someone had to start the game, now it's the community's turn.
Conclusion: MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina
The Skeg and The Machine are a manifesto of creative immediacy: electricity that puts on a neoprene and loses weight with fiberglass –15 %, and a petrol mini that wears rally memory, “cute” red-white-black livelia and hydraulic manuallike it was ripped out of the garage Venice BeachOn paper they are not important because they are not serial; in culture they are very much important because they show, what MINI still is: playful, functional, unafraid of patina and with an ear for a community that loves to play with materials, buttons and ideas. At a time when many steering wheels are just screens, this is exactly what it is “beauty of imperfection” (engineering, not negligent) one of the most beautiful ways forward. Price? It doesn't exist. The value? In the miles of smiles and stories you'll tell. If you're interested to drive trend and not just follow it, this duo is your ticket – first in MINI Pavilion, and then, who knows, into the next chapter of cooperation between MINI and God.
