IT’S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE just who will buy the latest release from BMW. The 8 X JEFF KOONS is an exclusive edition M850i xDrive Gran Coupé created by renowned American artist Jeff Koons and BMW, is heading to Australia.
Subtle it ain’t!
Just one of the 99 vehicles produced will be available to purchase by a local customer in Q3 this year, with pricing to be confirmed.
The limited edition model, which was presented to a global audience at the Frieze Los Angeles event in February, will be offered in right-hand-drive – enabling it to be fully registered and driven – and features a high level of specification.
The 8 x JEFF KOONS incorporates an expressive and striking design for both the interior and exterior.
The energetic and powerful exterior design includes elements of pop art and geometric patterns that pay homage to the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. The exploding lines of colour at the rear, in turn, are their own unmediated homage to the artist’s 2010 BMW Art Car, the BMW M3 GT2, while the “POP!” on each side as well as the vapour thrust imagery symbolise the power and speed of THE 8 X JEFF KOONS, according to the artist.
The exterior finish combines 11 different colours, ranging from blue to silver and yellow to black.
Just four vehicles are painted a week, and each takes 285 hours of manual work to complete by highly specialised professionals at BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Landshut. During this process, colour samples are often applied with magnifying glasses.
“Dozens of engineers and designers have given their all to celebrate our partnership and make his vision come true,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
The artist spent many days on site at the Dingolfing plant over a period of numerous months discussing design options with the BMW employees.
“I was thinking very intensely about it: What is the essence of the 8 Series Gran Coupé? What is the essence of power? How to create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element?” Mr Koons commented.
The multi-coloured interior of THE 8 X JEFF KOONS features use of high-end materials, fine leather and a cupholder lid with edition badging and the artist’s signature, which is finished in Bavarian blue from the BMW logo, as selected by Mr Koons.
The seats are made up of striking red and blue tones, reflecting the colours of superheroes from the comic book universe as well as those of the company’s high-performance division, BMW M.
Each vehicle comes with a large-format certificate personally signed by Jeff Koons and Oliver Zipse signature while also containing the individual Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the respective vehicle.