BMW + garage italia apply pop art pixels to i8 + i3 crossfade special editions

the BMW ‘i8’ and BMW ‘i3 crossfade special editions’ are the results of the collaboration between garage italia customs and BMW. the two one-offs are characterized by a unique guise that uses geometrical shapes for a gradient effect. they will be on show from september 30th inside pavilion 5 niveau 1 of the paris motor show. lapo elkann’s creative hub specializes in 360° personalization, and renews its collaboration with BMW unveiling the BMW ‘i8 garage italia crossfade’ and the BMW ‘i3 garage italia crossfade’ in paris.

BMW ‘i8 crossfade special edition’

the two one-offs are to celebrating hybrid cars: sophisticated and complicated mechanisms representing one the highest expressions of the technological progress in this sector today. for this reason, the garage italia customs style centre decided to create a livery that would emphasize the true essence of the BMW i philosophy, breaching traditional methods of varnishing. classic gradient–obtained by the homogeneous fading from one color to another–has been replaced by a ‘digital’ version. geometric shapes of increasing size give the same visual effect in a more sophisticated manner, creating a stronger visual impact.

on the body of the ‘i8 garage italia crossfade’, the color variation–from protonic dark silver metallic on the front to a protonic blue metallic rear–further emphasizes the dynamic lines of the car. this effect is also thanks to the choice of using the triangle as the main geometric shape in the pattern. the result was obtained through a complex procedure: the car, which was metallic protonic blue metallic to start with, was first covered in order to produce the desired geometric drawing precisely, then painted with protonic dark silver metallic. the same pattern printed on the alcantara upholstery of the centre console, door panels and the whole headliner. the seats are upholstered in foglizzo leather; pierced black alcantara; and protonic blue alcantara.

the technique the garage italia customs maestros used was inspired by the artistic movements of the 19th century like pointillism; divisionism; and pop art. its basis is the optical color mixing theory, according to which our brain tends to blend adjacent colors giving us the impression of a gradient.

‘lapo elkann is a pioneer in linking the disciplines of fashion, automobile and design. as a designer, I find this comprehensive approach particularly exciting,’ says adrian van hooydonk, head of BMW group design. ‘with BMW i, we have been successful in overcoming previous restrictions in automotive design through the use of entirely new materials. so the progressive expressiveness of the garage italia crossfade edition is perfectly in keeping with the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.’

‘technological development and constant search for innovation are common key values to both garage italia customs and BMW,’ adds lapo elkann, chairman and founder of garage italia customs. ‘BMW i automobiles provide our designers with ideal opportunities for an artistic exploration of the future of mobility. the crossfade project was a great opportunity to create something beyond the traditional idea of car painting, generating amazing effects with a unique geometrical pattern.’

instead, on the ‘i3 garage italia crossfade’ the color variation develops vertically, going from metallic protonic blue metallic to black. in this case wrapping has taken the place of varnishing, with an application technique that was thought up especially for the occasion. with the intent to symbolize the pleasure of driving this electric five-door, the technicians of garage italia customs printed a series of round shapes increasing size on transparent film. this film was matched to a transparent glossy film through cold rolling. both films are produced by 3m. the distinctive color design is also to be found in the interior, where high-quality textile and alcantara surfaces additionally emphasize the premium character of the car.

BMW ‘i3 crossfade special edition’

the main aim of garage italia customs is to place its clients and their creative requirements back ‘in the spotlight’, in a world that has been more and more standardized and where number prevails over subjectivity. just as a tailor-made outfit follows the lines of the body harmoniously, the garage aims at making any vehicle unique, be it a car; a motorbike; a plane; a helicopter; or a yacht. it re-elaborates the clients’ very wishes with a tailor-made service that involves the study of detail, balance of the components and research of materials.

the équipe working at garage italia customs is made up of the team that created the tailor made service for ferrari and some of the best technicians specialized in the automotive sector, specifically in the field of wrapping; painting; and upholstery of interiors. they are the ‘maestros’, as lapo elkann himself describes them, and their unique skills are of absolute excellence in this work. the ‘maestros’ are backed up by the style centre, which is the heart of all the activities. it is a meeting place for the design team, where the ideas and dreams of clients intersect with the aesthetic taste of the experts of the garage.