The First Most Extravagantly Styled Creation In Its Repertoire, BMW Presents THE 8 X JEFF KOONS

Representing the most elaborately designed vehicle in the brand’s history, with an exclusive edition of only 99 creations, BMW presents THE 8 X JEFF KOONS.

BMW AG’s management board chairman, Oliver Zipse, remarked, “BMW thrives on constantly seeking out new challenges! Working with Jeff Koons again has inspired us all throughout the headquarters and across our plants in Germany. Never before in the history of our company has a BMW been created with such an extensive design effort as THE 8 X JEFF KOONS. A 'rolling sculpture' that will not only be displayed as a coveted collector's item in museums but will also be allowed to flourish on the road as a genuine BMW.”

Created over several years of close collaboration between Jeff Koons and BMW, this strictly limited run of the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé will be unveiled for the first time at Frieze Los Angeles.

Artist Jeff Koons, expressed, “My edition of the BMW 8 Series is my dream car! It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the hood towards the trunk, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapor thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space and I like the idea of the car being a global car. What matters is how we relate to each other and our awareness of everything we are surrounded by. For the driver and all passengers, there is a heightened state of pleasure. This is what my car has to offer.”

To begin with, over 200 hours of manual work were spent by highly specialized professionals at the BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Landshut on the exterior paintwork alone.

The expressive and striking design combines eleven different exterior colours ranging from blue to silver and from yellow to black. 

Then, the exploding lines of colour at the rear, pays homage to the artist's 2010 BMW Art Car, while the ‘POP!’, on each side and the vapor thrust imagery symbolize the power and speed of the car.

With only four cars painted each week, the process of applying the colour samples often involves the usage of magnifying glasses.

Inside, the multi-coloured interior consists of high-end materials, fine leather and a cup holder lid with an edition badging and the artist’s signature. 

Notably, the seats are made up of the striking red and blue which reflects the colours of superheroes from the comic book universe and those of the company’s high-performance unit BMW M. 

Overall, the energetic and powerful design includes both elements of pop art and geometric patterns paying homage to the sporty 8 Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. 

Zipse added, "Dozens of engineers and designers have given their all to celebrate our partnership and make his vision come true. The artist himself spent many days on site at the Dingolfing plant over a period of numerous months discussing design options with the BMW employees involved. 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?”

On top of that, each vehicle comes with a large-format certificate signed by Jeff Koons and Oliver Zipse, which also contains the individual Vehicle Identification Number of the respective units.

Other than that, the artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver's Manual, along with one more of his signature in the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo placed in the cup holder panel.

That said, following its world premiere, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be presented at numerous art fairs and events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

Including the 16th Istanbul Contemporary, Paris Photo, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Art Dubai, West Bund Art & Design Fair Shanghai and Art Basel Hong Kong.