Mini
- Mini debuted two Cooper JCW concept cars ahead of the IAA auto show in Munich, designed in collaboration with clothing brand Deus Ex Machina.
- The Skeg (above right), based on the electric JCW, wears fiberglass body panels, a large rear wing, and several references to surf culture.
- The Machina (above left) is based on the gas-powered JCW and is influenced by motorsport, with rally-style lights, a hunkered-down stance, and an exposed roll cage.
Mini is no stranger to wacky designs. The purveyors of British city cars have long offered a wide array of customization, from blacked-out roofs to checkered patterns on the mirror caps, and jumped headlong into campiness when it incorporated the design of the Union Jack flag into its taillights. Now Mini has revealed two eye-catching concepts for the IAA auto show in Munich, teaming up with clothing brand Deus Ex Machina to craft unique versions of the sporty Cooper JCW hatchback.MiniA Silent Coastal CruiserThe first concept, known as “The Skeg,” is based on the electric John Cooper Works model, not currently offered in the United States after tariffs on imported Chinese-built cars altered Mini’s production plan. The electric hot hatch produces 255 horsepower from a single front-mounted electric motor.The Skeg is said to be inspired by the world of surfing and embraces fiberglass, used to make most modern surfboards, for much of the bodywork. Wider fiberglass fenders are tacked on with visible rivets, while a large rear wing, which Mini claims “responds to airflow much like a surfboard rides the contours of a wave,” hangs off the roof. The semi-transparent fiberglass panels combine to reduce the Mini’s weight by 15 percent. MiniMiniThe silver and yellow paint job is highlighted by two yellow tension straps that cross the roof just ahead of the rear wing, mimicking the tying down of a surfboard after a day out on the waves. The strap motif appears again on the dashboard and as the six-o’clock spoke on the steering wheel, while the door handles are replaced with cloth pulls. The cabin is stripped down to the bare essentials, with motorsports-style bucket seats wrapped in water-repellent neoprene upholstery, perfect for when you’re still a little damp after a day on the waves. Mini also fitted the Skeg with fiberglass trays to hold wetsuits, and the doors and dashboard are sport fiberglass panels.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsA Rambunctious Track Hatch MiniThe second concept, called “The Machina,” is based on the gas-powered John Cooper Works hatchback, producing 228 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The Machina is influenced by racing, with bulging wheel arches and a slammed ride giving the JCW a mean stance. Above the mesh grille sit four circular auxiliary lights, referencing rally racing, while the round headlight housings replace the normal lamps with a pair of LED strips. Around back, a diffuser pokes out beneath the bodywork, and a Can-Am-style spoiler juts out from the roof. The red, white, and black look continues inside, where Mini fitted five-point racing harnesses and racing bucket seats. There are also raw aluminum floor plates, stripped-down door panels, an exposed roll cage, and a simple steering wheel devoid of buttons. A tall lever sprouts up from the floor to control a hydraulic handbrake, allowing the Machina to get sideways with ease.MiniMiniBoth the Skeg and Machina concept cars will likely have no chance to go into production, but instead serve as proof that Mini is always devising new, bold looks to spice up its iconic hatchback design. Mini knows how to have fun, and its two IAA-bound concepts are the perfect reminder.More on Mini
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Source: caranddriver.com
