MINI releases customized version of JCW, two One-off models, limited-edition purchase

Recently, when talking about the MINI brand in the car circle, many people have a very complicated mood.

On the one hand, this brand talks about "as easy as a kart" every day, which is indeed a good reputation it has accumulated over the years; but on the other hand, it has done some operations that car fans cannot understand, such as in the new car, not only has the manual transmission been cancelled, but even the shift paddles behind the steering wheel were removed.

This is like a person who claims to be a swimmer but takes the initiative to tie up his arms, which makes people confused.

Everyone is guessing, what is MINI going to do?

Do you really don’t want to play with people who are pursuing driving fun, or do you have other plans?

At this critical moment, MINI suddenly released two big moves and launched two unique customized JCW models, one burns oil and the other uses electricity. It looks so handsome and has a very exciting performance.

Now, everyone became even more confused.

Is this really trying to show off your muscles and tell everyone that it has not forgotten its original name, or is it a carefully planned commercial promotion that uses two unsuccessful cars to boost everyone's appetite?

We have to start from the beginning.

Recently, when talking about the MINI brand in the car circle, many people have a very complicated mood.

On the one hand, this brand talks about "as easy as a kart" every day, which is indeed a good reputation it has accumulated over the years; but on the other hand, it has done some operations that car fans cannot understand, such as in the new car, not only has the manual transmission been cancelled, but even the shift paddles behind the steering wheel were removed.

This is like a person who claims to be a swimmer but takes the initiative to tie up his arms, which makes people confused.

Everyone is guessing, what is MINI going to do?

Do you really don’t want to play with people who are pursuing driving fun, or do you have other plans?

At this critical moment, MINI suddenly released two big moves and launched two unique customized JCW models, one burns oil and the other uses electricity. It looks so handsome and has a very exciting performance.

Now, everyone became even more confused.

Is this really trying to show off your muscles and tell everyone that it has not forgotten its original name, or is it a carefully planned commercial promotion that uses two unsuccessful cars to boost everyone's appetite?

We have to start from the beginning.

In fact, this is not the first time MINI has played like this.

Back in 2022, MINI found a very famous lifestyle brand, Deus X Machina. This brand is very popular abroad, playing motorcycles, surfing, making clothing, and playing whatever trend it is.

They also brought in an artist named Matt Willy, and the tripartite team worked together to redesign a classic 1998 Mini Cooper car.

The artist found inspiration from the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s, one of the highest glorious moments in MINI's history.

The final work is very stunning. The whole car is mainly black, and the body is full of the names of various competition locations and events, like a meritorious jacket full of achievements.

The doors and roof are eye-catching white, and there is also a large black "X" symbol on the roof, which is a common logo on the rally car, making it look particularly combat-oriented.

The finishing touch is the bright orange on the rearview mirror and the fuel tank cover, which suddenly makes the whole car come alive.

The cooperation was very effective and everyone thought it was cool. So this year, the three companies got together again and decided to continue the creativity and play bigger than last time.

The direct purpose of their cooperation this time was to promote a new co-branded clothing series, but in order to make the momentum big enough, they decided to build two more cars, and it was based on the latest MINI model.

One is the fuel version of MINI JCW with a 231 horsepower engine, and the other is the pure electric version of MINI Cooper with 258 horsepower.

These two cars can be said to be the strongest performance representatives in the MINI family. One represents the roar and passion of traditional fuel vehicles, and the other represents the rapidity and future of the electric era.

According to the plan, these two unique works of art will be officially unveiled at the Munich Auto Show on September 8, and together with those new clothes, a cross-border show will be staged.

Let’s first look at the fuel version of the car. It has a cool name, called “Machina”.

In terms of design, this car inherits the essence of the classic car in 2022. The classic combination of black, white and orange can be preserved, but the style has become wilder and unrestrained.

The area of ​​orange has been greatly increased. The hood, the fender above the front wheels, and the bumper at the rear of the car are all painted with large areas of orange, looking like a beast that has just experienced fierce battles, full of power.

The air intake grille at the front of the car is completely blacked out, which looks particularly aggressive.

The most interesting thing is its headlights, and the outer cover is covered with a lid with many holes. This is not just for the sake of good looks. These holes can guide the airflow to cool the brake system. This is a practical design that I have learned from racing.

In order to accommodate wider tires, the fenders at the four corners of the body have been widened outwards, making the entire body look lower and more solid.

Four huge pulling spotlights are also installed on the hood, as if they are ready to gallop on the track of the night at any time.

The design of the rear of the car is even more unrestrained. The exhaust pipe is placed in the middle. Below is a huge diffuser. There is also a large tail wing with a very exaggerated shape at the end of the roof. The official said that this is the "Can-Am" racing style. Every detail is announcing to the outside world: I am not easy to mess with.

If you think it's hard-core enough, then you might be even more surprised to pull open the door.

Almost everything related to comfort was removed from the car.

The floor was bare aluminum alloy plates, and the instrument panel was wrapped in a very rough wax canvas, with no large screen on it, only a few toggle switches like in the cockpit of the aircraft.

The steering wheel is bare and there is no extra button, just to allow you to drive with concentration.

To ensure safety, the car has a sturdy roll cage, and the seats have been replaced with racing-specific ones, equipped with five-point seat belts, which can firmly fix you to the seat.

It can be said that this car has completely deviated from the scope of daily transportation. It is a racing car that can be legally launched on the road.

Let’s look at another pure electric custom car, called “Skeg”, and its style is completely different.

If "Machina" is a tough guy who came out of a muddy track, then "Skeg" is a surfing boy who enjoys the sun on a California beach.

Its design inspiration comes from surfing culture, and the body is made of gray, white and yellow, which looks particularly fresh and energetic.

The front of the car has undergone drastic transformation, replaced with a whole exposed fiberglass panel, and a row of round holes are also opened below, which is very sci-fi.

The middle of the front retains the luminous "grid" outline of the Hyundai MINI, but is cleverly connected by a black stripe that extends from bottom to top.

In order to reduce weight, the rear fender of this car was also replaced with fiberglass material. It is said that the whole vehicle is 15% lighter than the original state.

For electric cars, weight loss means faster acceleration and longer range.

The most amazing thing is that its roof is actually completely transparent. Through the glass roof, you can clearly see a surfboard fixed on the ceiling in the car.

In order not to fight with the same large spoiler at the rear of the car, the shape of the surfboard has been specially modified. This detail is really talented.

The interior style is also consistent with the appearance.

The material of the seat is waterproof neoprene, which is the kind of material used for diving suits, so even if you just came out of the sea and sat in it wet, it would be fine.

The instrument panel was also replaced with fiberglass material, and there was even a specially designed shelf in the car, which could be used to dry two sets of diving suits.

This kind of thoughtful and interesting design really makes people admire the designer's imagination.

After seeing this, I believe many people will think, how much does such a cool car cost to buy?

But unfortunately, the official made it clear that these two cars were only built for display and publicity and would not be sold or auctioned.

This makes the whole thing a little subtle.

MINI has spent so much effort to create two such extreme and pure cars, which seems to be expressing its love and persistence to car fans all over the world.

But looking back at the mass-produced cars it sells on the market, it is gradually reducing the configurations that can bring driving pleasure.

This behavior forms a huge contrast with the image it displays.

Especially in our domestic market, everyone can see how fierce the competition in the automotive industry is now.

Domestic brands have developed rapidly in design, performance and intelligence, giving consumers unprecedented rich choices.

In such an environment, if a car brand only maintains its "cool" image by creating several "concept cars" that everyone cannot buy, and does not show enough sincerity in the actual products to meet the real needs of consumers, then how long can this "cool" be attractive?

What everyone wants to see is not only the beautiful exhibits in the window, but also hopes to buy a car that is truly fun, has personality, and can have emotional connection with oneself.

Of course, we cannot deny the design success of these two customized cars. They do provide many great ideas for MINI's future development, and also prove that the brand's design team is still full of creativity and passion.