When it comes to the combination of cars and art, in recent years, it can be said that more and more car manufacturers have been gradually trying it out, with BMW being a pioneer among them. Since the 1970s, BMW has been collaborating with artists, and recently they have brought a brand new artist collaboration car, the BMW 8 Series, led by contemporary sculpture master Jeff Koons.
After more than 10 years apart, BMW and Jeff Koons once again collaborate, this time transitioning from the M3GT2 to BMW’s 8 Series M850i Gran Coupe model. Named the 8X Jeff Koons special edition, Jeff Koons referenced another contemporary art master, pop art representative Roy Lichtenstein, who collaborated with BMW in 1977 to design the 320i Group 5 model, expressing admiration for how they applied the concept of the passage of time to car design. Therefore, Jeff Koons created in this collaboration using Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic comic style.
The M850i Gran Coupe model designed by Jeff Koons is entirely in blue as the base color of the entire car. According to BMW’s official information, the use of color not only expresses BMW’s representative color scheme but also symbolizes “vast space.” Moreover, the design is based on superheroes and comic creations, with comic stickers on the body symbolizing “the power and speed of the vehicle,” such as jet bubbles, exploding flames, “POP!” words, and the giant BMW emblem on the hood.
In addition, the interior of the cabin has also become a place where Jeff Koons wields his brush. Inspired by superheroes, the seats are made of red and blue leather, resembling Spider-Man’s exclusive seats. The dashboard and cabin are crafted with burgundy leather, paired with light brown door frames. Although there is not much decoration on the center console, the cup holder cover not only indicates its special edition status, but also features Jeff Koons’ signature. Each 8X Jeff Koons address has a unique identification code to prove its authenticity.
Recently, Jeff Koons also collaborated with BMW for an art project, where he shared that the BMW 8 Series has always been his dream car. Therefore, he is very excited to be able to create the artwork for 8X Jeff Koons, and he can’t wait to experience the driving sensation brought by the 8 Series four-door coupe.
As another chapter of the BMW Art Journey, the 8X Jeff Koons is not only an exhibition model, but will also be limited to 99 units, with only the M850i xDrive configuration available in the United States, priced at $350,995. At the same time, BMW will specially provide one for charity auction, which will be exhibited at Rockefeller Plaza from April 1st to 4th and auctioned at Christie’s New York, with the proceeds going to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Although this car is expensive, it is definitely highly anticipated by collectors who love collecting vehicles and artworks.
資料及圖片來源：Web Photo
