BMW Gets Jeff Koons To Design His Dream Car, And Units Are For Sale

Image via BMW

Contrary to what BMW’s designers had thought, Jeff Koons’ dream car isn’t splashed in the colors of balloon dogs. Instead, it’s a moving canvas of pop art in bright motifs that call back to comic books.

This fantasy, over a decade in the making, has now materialized on the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé, bearing the name of 8 x Jeff Koons.

The artist, who for some time held the title of world’s highest-selling living artist, told the New York Times:

“I wanted to make a car that, when it drove by, would go pop-pop-pop.”

And the automaker is making this eye-popping “rolling sculpture” ready to purchase for the road, as opposed to having it as a one-off piece. Exactly 99 of the Jeff Koons-designed cars will be made available.

Image via BMW

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse emphasizes that this edition 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.” Turning it into public art may be the intention, but it’s worth noting that, at US$350,995, the Jeff Koons car bears the price of more than three of the same model.

BMW and Koons’ working relationship go way back. In 2008, the contemporary artist was asked to come up with a design for the ongoing BMW Art Car program. Three styles floated to mind: “Plan A, Plan B and Plan C.”

Plan B was set into motion in 2010 and arrived in the form of a race car. Koons had second thoughts after Plan C so he scrapped it. The latest design, unveiled at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair on Thursday, was his Plan A.

The road-ready car is much more accessible for the everyday driver yet commands attention, with its vibrant palette and explosive illustrations. “[I wanted to] make something that children could look at and say, ‘Mom, dad, did you see what just drove by?’” he shared with Robb Report.

Image via BMW

“I’m thrilled about the car. This is a car I designed that I wanted for myself,” Koons told reporters at a virtual roundtable.

Watching the moving artwork run at full speed would be a treat; its exterior features 11 hues, including a blue that reminds Koon of the vastness of space.

Image via BMW

The “whoosh of air” signifies power, speed, and movement, as does the “POP!” expression painted on both sides of the BMW.

Image via BMW

The interior, constructed with fine materials like high-quality leather, has its own brand of flair. The red and blue scheme that swaths its seats reminds of the outfits of comic book superheroes. Incidentally, it’s also the palette of the BMW M series.

Image via BMW

According to BMW, the dynamic paint job was the result of “200 hours of painstaking manual labor,” which included hand-painting and the meticulous observation of color samples under magnifying glasses. “Dozens of engineers and designers have given their all to celebrate our partnership and make [Koon’s] vision come true,” says Zipse.

In spite of the loud aesthetic, Koons maintains that the car isn’t just an object for “peacocking.”

“When I drive by and somebody says, ‘Hey, look at that,’ it’s not just about feathers being spread,” the artist told the Times. “They see something that’s very visceral, and it’s visual.”

Image via BMW

BMW anticipates a surge in demand with this variation, and has thus planned more premieres in Belgium, China, England, France, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates in the spring and summer to offer collectors a closer look at the model. Buyers of the special edition will receive a certificate signed by the artist, along with a signature by BMW’s CEO, the car’s individual Vehicle Identification Number, and a driver’s manual with a dust jacket also designed by Koons.

The sculpturist will get his own 8 x Jeff Koons BMW too, and he reckons it’ll be at refreshing change to the 13-passenger Mercedes van that he uses to drive his eight kids, wife, and nanny around. 

[via BMW and The New York Times, images via BMW]