Mini’s Rally Pedigree dates from the 1960s, starting with the victory at Monte Carlo Rallye from 1964. Two years later, a 1-2-3 finish has engraved the company into the history-even if the cars were disqualified for non-compliant lights. In 1967 the classic Cooper triumphed again, a year later with a third place. These early victories defined Mini’s Motorsport heir, one that continues to celebrate the brand today.
Fast lead to 2025, and Mini marks this story with a few radical once that was created in collaboration with Deus Ex Machina. Both are based on John Cooper Works models, a fully electrical (J01) and a gas-powered one (F66). The EV is called the nickname “The Skeg”, while the combustion version of “The Machina” goes. You do your world premiere at the IAA Mobility Show 2025 in Munich.
The SKEG-Born and electrical coastal
The SKEG channels surf the culture as well as the design language of Mini. In lively yellow and silver it is wide fenders, an illuminated radiator grille and a dramatic roof spoiler. Semi-transparent fiber optic bodies shave 15 percent of its weight while playing light all day. On the back, a “FlexSurf spoiler” adds the concave underside of a surfboard and shapes the air flow like a wave.
Inside, the topic is intentionally non -polished. The skeg is similar to a mobile surfing store with fiber optic shells for wetsuits and specially shaped shelves. Light bucket seats are flexible, water-repellent and tactile-crushed, while the dashboard construction techniques of surfboards borrow. The overall effect is playful, functional minimalism with deus branding and oversized “X” graphs that tie him back to the collaboration.
The Machina-Track Bred and burned fed
When the skeg goes around the coast, the Machina is the circuit. The Eiser-operated JCW has 231 hp and looks from the part of a motorsport setback. Its extended fenders, quad rally lights and bold red and white-black painter reference mini competition roots. On the back, a diffuser that is inspired by JCW racing car and a roof wing-aerodynamics in the can-am-aaaaaaaaaaaa-style.
The cabin doubles for motorsport theater: a exposed roller cage, oversized hydraulic handbrake lever and visible sutures emphasize the raw mechanics compared to Polish. The press release calls it a celebration of the “authentic functionality” with deus logos, hand-rendered details and a “beauty of imperfection”, which contrasts the usual shine of mini.
A common culture of the craft
Both cars have a large white “X” above the roof, a uniform design motif that is supposed to symbolize the partnership. They also share manual details, brave graphic elements and a “raw, handmade” design approach that reflects Deus ex Machina’s surf and motorcycle culture. The performance specifications differ-and the SKEG produces up to 258 hp, the Machina 231 PS, but both are just show concepts that are never intended for series production.
This is not Deus Ex Machina’s first mini cooperation. At the beginning of this year, the Australian brand worked with BMW Group Designworks on the Livery for the Nürburgring entry by Bulldog Racing, which took second place in the class at the 24 hours of Nürburgring.
Mini at IAA Mobility 2025
In addition to these two once, Mini also shows Aceman SE and Countryman SE All4 and expands its fully electric range. The parent company BMW uses the show to present the ready-to-production NEE class-based IX3, the most important EV debut since the original i3. The IAA runs from September 9th to 14th with press day on 8 ..
