Quick Highlights:
- Rivian R1S Miami Edition debuts with teal, pink, and neon flourishes, plus 850 hp and a 0–60 sprint in under 2.9 seconds.
- Mini JCW Skeg Concept is surf-inspired, drops 15% weight with fiberglass panels, and delivers 255 hp.
- Mini JCW Machina Concept channels rally heritage with 228 hp, a roll cage, auxiliary lights, and a hydraulic handbrake.
- All three are one-off design studies—bold reminders that car culture is still about fun, not just numbers.
The United States’ best-selling electric adventure brand, Rivian, knows how to put on a show. To celebrate its new Miami hub, it didn’t just cut a ribbon—it rolled out an 850-horsepower R1S dressed like an extra from Miami Vice, dripping in teal, pink, and pastel neon.
Meanwhile in Munich, Mini pulled a very Mini move. Partnering with Deus Ex Machina, the British marque cooked up two one-offs: the Skeg EV, a surf-themed JCW hatchback wrapped in fiberglass panels, and the Machina, a gas-powered JCW stripped down for rally duty.
On one side, a hulking electric SUV with Miami nightlife swagger. On the other, tiny hatches channeling surf breaks and gravel stages. Different continents, different philosophies, same message: cars can still be fun.
Rivian R1S Miami Edition: 850 HP Meets Art Deco
To mark the opening of its new Miami store at Mary Brickell Village, Rivian rolled out a special R1S Miami Edition. Finished in Glacier White with teal striping, pink tow hooks, and pastel wheel accents, it’s a rolling tribute to the city’s Art Deco legacy.
The interior carries the theme with Ocean Coast upholstery, custom mats, and splashes of teal and pink trim. But beneath the neon skin, it’s still an 850-hp (634 kW / 862 PS) Tri-Motor SUV with 371 miles (597 km) of range and a 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h) sprint in under 2.9 seconds.
This isn’t Rivian’s first custom: earlier this year, a special R1S Pebble Beach Edition sold at auction for $175,000, raising funds for MrBeast’s #TeamWater initiative. With the Miami one-off, Rivian proves it can blend nostalgia and raw speed just as effortlessly.
Mini JCW Skeg: Motion on a Surf Culture.
Mini also collaborated with Deus Ex Machina to develop the JCW Skeg Concept (a concept vehicle based on the electric John Cooper Works hatchback) at the IAA Munich Auto Show. U.S. customers won’t be seeing this EV in the near future, at least not until Chinese import tariffs lift the ban, but Europe gets a preview of the electric hot-hatch future of Mini.
The Skeg makes 255 hp (190 kW / 259 PS) and loses 15 percent of its weight with fibreglass body panels. A massive rear wing directs air in the form of a surfboard as it rides a wave and the yellow straps on the roof are reminiscent of the ritual of tying down the boards after a day at the beach.
The interior has neoprene bucket seats which shake off wet wetsuits and fibreglass trays in the cabin that carry the surf gear. It is more of a styling exercise, but with a functional nod to surf culture in Mini attitude.
Mini JCW Machina: Rally Riot in Hatchback Form
If the Skeg is all saltwater and sand, the JCW Machina is pure grit and gravel. Built on the gas-powered JCW with a 228-hp (170 kW / 231 PS) turbocharged 2.0-liter, it pushes Mini’s motorsport heritage to the extreme.
A slammed stance, bulging fenders, and rally-style auxiliary lights set the tone outside. Inside, it’s pared back to the essentials—racing buckets, aluminum floors, five-point harnesses, and a hydraulic handbrake that practically dares you to flick it sideways. An exposed roll cage completes the rally-ready makeover.
Quick Spec Comparison
Specs only tell part of the story, but here’s how these three wild one-offs stack up:
| Model | Powertrain | Output | Performance / Range | Weight Reduction | Key Features | Theme / Inspiration | Debut Location | Production Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S Miami Edition | Tri-Motor Electric | 850 hp (634 kW / 862 PS) | 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h) < 2.9s, 371 miles (597 km) range | — | Glacier White paint, teal/pink accents, Ocean Coast interior | 1980s Miami, Art Deco, neon flair | Rivian Space, Miami | One-off, not for sale |
| Mini JCW Skeg Concept | Electric, FWD | 255 hp (190 kW / 259 PS) | N/A | 15% lighter with fiberglass panels | Surfboard-style rear wing, neoprene bucket seats, fiberglass surf trays | Surf culture, coastal lifestyle | IAA Munich Auto Show | One-off, not for sale |
| Mini JCW Machina Concept | Gasoline, 2.0L Turbo I4 | 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS) | N/A | N/A | Rally lights, bulging fenders, racing buckets, aluminum floors, roll cage, hydraulic handbrake | Rally racing, motorsport heritage | IAA Munich Auto Show | One-off, not for sale |
A Brand Known for Quirk
This isn’t the first time Mini has indulged in eccentric design. From checkerboard mirror caps to Union Jack taillights and color-contrasting roofs, Mini has always embraced playful personalization. The Skeg and Machina simply take that spirit to the next level—surfboards and rally stages included.
Final Words
Neither the Rivian R1S Miami Edition nor Mini’s JCW Skeg and Machina will ever see production lines. But that’s not the point. These one-offs are statements: Rivian reminding us that EVs can have soul and swagger, and Mini showing its playful DNA is alive and well.
In an era obsessed with efficiency charts and range anxiety, it’s refreshing to see cars that make people smile first and do the spec-sheet math later. Whether it’s a 15% lighter surf hatch or an 850-hp neon SUV, these creations prove one thing: car culture is still about passion as much as progress.
Source: Rivian, Mini
