XWORXS' R53 Mini - Forged, flared and built to stand alone
Before We Start... Big News!
We don’t usually open a build breakdown like this - but this isn’t just any feature.
TLNTD is officially sponsoring the XWORXS Group X / Yaris X / Budget Build Giveaway (🚗 find more out here →) and this R53 build breakdown is the perfect way to kick off the partnership.
On August 2nd, we’re teaming up with XWORXS to host our first-ever XWORXS x TLNTD Meet, where one lucky attendee will drive away in a fully built project car - completely free. We’re beyond proud to be partnering with XWORXS/Group X for this event and to be supporting one of the wildest community giveaways the UK scene has seen in years.
We’ll be at the event handing out stickers, shooting some of your builds, and talking to the owners that make this community what it is. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it.
And the icing on top? We’ve got an exclusive collaboration dropping very soon, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it. Dropping imminently in perfect time ahead of the meet, I wonder what it could be....
Now, onto the build…
Forged, flared and built to stand alone..
Some builds follow trends. Others make them. For XWORXS, this R53 Mini Cooper S is the result of three years of hard graft, relentless experimentation, and a refusal to settle for anything less than standout. After setbacks with a widebody R56, the decision was made to start fresh. What followed was a £25,000+ transformation, with serious presence, performance, and personality.
This isn’t just a fast Mini. It’s a statement piece. An R53 that wears aggression on its sleeve and brings something genuinely new to the UK - and anywhere else on the planet - Mini scene.
And if you haven’t yet, check out our full podcast with XWORXS to hear the whole story on the R53, the M2 Comp, the E46 and everything else.
🎧 Listen to the TLNTD Podcast Episode with XWORXS →
"The first vision I had with my mini R53 was to make it a track weapon BUT I then come up with the idea of creating a one of a kind R53."
That mindset drove the entire project. From the fully forged powertrain to the one-off widebody and planned carbon front end, everything on this car is designed to push boundaries, not just push power.
The build.
At its heart is a forged JCW engine block, completely rebuilt from a second-hand donor. Designed to take serious abuse and ready for whatever future boost levels demand, it laid the foundation for the rest of the build.
- Fully Forged Internals - Built from a used John Cooper Works block, completely reworked to take power reliably.
- Supercharged Setup - Retaining the classic R53 charm while turning the dial up on performance.
Power was only the first chapter...
Where the Mini’s compact form normally leans toward ‘cute’, this build flips the script entirely. The aggressive stance, flared arches, and sculpted details give it a silhouette unlike anything else on UK roads.
- Custom Wide Arch Kit - A completely one-off setup, built in-house and moulded to the chassis. Rear end dramatically widened to accommodate serious wheel fitment.
- Custom Bonnet Vents - XWORXS' favourite mod - an aggressive, functional detail that sets the tone from the front.
- XXR 9J Wheels - Specially ordered to fill those flares, completing the Mini’s squat, purposeful stance.
- Handcrafted Rear Diffuser - Based on an off-the-shelf item but cut, reshaped, and modified to make it unique.
"Everything on this car is completely custom and it is only going to get better "
Despite its current presence, this Mini is far from finished. The next phase in the evolution is already in motion: a fully exposed carbon fibre front end, a bold move that would make it the first of its kind in the UK.
Where to catch it?
This Mini will be front and centre at the XWORXS x TLNTD Meet on August 2nd, and we can’t wait to see it alongside the M2, E46 and the Yaris X Budget Build Free Giveaway.
The Mini isn’t just a showpiece - it gets driven. Often spotted around Mumbles and the South Wales area, the car sees road time when the weather allows. It’s not a daily, but it’s no garage queen either.
"Massive shout out to Reece (@A5 Guy) for helping me fix her when I’ve been too angry to! And to DJ Tints - always bringing new ideas to the table and pushing the car further!"
Follow @xworxs on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for all the build updates and behind-the-scenes content, and keep an eye on our socials for the latest on the event, the giveaway, and our upcoming exclusive collab drop — launching soon via the TLNTD store.
📸 Want your car featured? Book a TLNTD shoot now and let’s tell your story next.
