MINI and Australian lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina have unveiled two one-off John Cooper Works concepts that take a focused approach to automotive collaboration. The partnership combines MINI’s motorsport heritage with Deus’s custom motorcycle expertise, developed over nearly two decades since the brand’s 2006 founding in Sydney’s Camperdown district.
Racing Heritage Meets Coastal Cool
If you’re aware of Deus Custom’s knack for innovative style and performance, you’ll know that these aren’t your typical concept cars. The Skeg and The Machina represent two sides of the same performance coin, each built on existing JCW platforms but pushed in completely different directions. Where most brands would hedge their bets with safe, focus-grouped designs, this collaboration leans into specificity. The Skeg channels surf culture through its electric JCW base, while The Machina goes full motorsport with its combustion-powered foundation.
The electric Skeg catches attention immediately with its yellow and silver livery, but the real story lies in those semi-transparent fiberglass panels that strip 15% of the car’s weight. This is a functional design borrowed directly from surfboard construction. The roof straps are actual tie-downs for boards, complete with custom fiberglass trays inside for wetsuits. The neoprene upholstery and stripped-down controls create a beach-ready interior that prioritizes function over flash.
More Turf, Less Surf
The Machina takes the opposite approach, diving headfirst into MINI’s rally heritage with four auxiliary lights mounted on the hood — a direct nod to the brand’s Monte Carlo victories from the ’60s. The red, white, and black paint scheme feels authentic rather than retro-for-retro’s-sake, while the Can-Am-style rear spoiler and Nordschleife-inspired diffuser show actual motorsport influence rather than generic “racing” cues.
Inside, the stripped cabin features five-point harnesses, raw aluminum floor plates, and an exposed roll cage that serves both safety and aesthetic purposes. The hydraulic handbrake with its prominent lever creates that direct mechanical connection that’s been lost in most modern performance cars.
Two Sides of the Same MINI
Both concepts share design elements that reinforce their partnership — the large white ‘X’ on each roof serves as a visual bridge between the two wildly different approaches. The graphics, handled by Matt Willey (who previously worked with Deus on a 2023 MINI Cooper S), reference classic motorsport liveries.
The collaboration extends beyond these concepts into an apparel collection launching next week.
Spec Sheet
Model: The Skeg
Base Model: MINI JCW Electric
Power: 258hp
Key Modifications: Semi-transparent fiberglass panels (15% weight reduction), illuminated front grille, Flex Tip Surf Spoiler
Interior: Neoprene upholstery, fiberglass dashboard, wetsuit storage trays, stripped analogue controls
Design Theme: Surf culture-inspired with functional beach equipment integration
Model: The Machina
Base Model: MINI JCW (combustion)
Power: 231hp
Key Modifications: Four auxiliary rally lights, widened fenders, Can-Am rear spoiler, Nordschleife-inspired diffuser
Interior: Five-point racing harnesses, exposed roll cage, raw aluminum floor plates, hydraulic handbrake
Design Theme: Motorsport heritage with rally and track racing elements
Pricing & Availability
Both JCW concepts remain one-offs with no production plans, though the MINI x Deus Ex Machina apparel collection launches September 8 at IAA Munich before rolling out globally through Deus’s retail network.
Recap
MINI x Deus Ex Machina JCW Concepts
MINI and Deus Ex Machina created two one-off JCW concepts — The Skeg (electric, surf-inspired) and The Machina (gas-powered, motorsport-focused) — that showcase functional modifications like weight-saving fiberglass panels and authentic racing elements.
