BMW announced an upcoming collaboration with Jeff Koons, to debut at the 2022 edition of Frieze Los Angeles. Following the artist’s design for the 2010 BMW Art Car, his second partnership with the automobile brand will see a special BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé customized by Koons, which will be available for sale in limited editions upon its reveal in February of 2022.
“I am thrilled and honored about the opportunity to work with BMW again and to create a limited edition car,” said Jeff Koons. “I was thinking very intensely about it: what is the essence of the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé? What is the essence of power? How can I create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element? It’s just a wonderful opportunity to be working as part of the BMW family again.”
Outfitted with features like a 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine and xDrive, the vehicle—deemed The 8 x Jeff Koons—will be imagined in a striking pop art-inspired design that highlights the sleek shape and sloping contours of its body through geometric graphics. The exterior of each car will have a total of 11 hues of paint applied in multiple layers over the course of 285 hours, while rich shades of leather like red, blue, and wine outfit the luxurious interiors, which are completed with the artist’s engraved signature.
Courtesy of BMW.
“In 2021, we are celebrating 50 years of cultural engagement worldwide. We love the arts and the bold voices of our time. Our passion is emotion and to be able to work closely with Jeff Koons again has been an extraordinary source of inspiration,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. “We are always looking for great minds who think alike—who extend the limits of aesthetics and perception in their very own fields. It is a true pleasure to jointly create that experience together with Jeff Koons, one of the greatest artists of our time.”
Courtesy of BMW.
