BMW and renowned American artist Jeff Koons have once again joined forces to produce a unique BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé that’s ‘a work of art on wheels’.

12 years after working together to create an aesthetically reworked BMW M3 GT2 Art Car that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the pair are now partnering to launch THE 8 X JEFF KOONS.

Described as the most elaborately designed vehicle in BMW history, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS is an exclusive edition that will be limited to only 99 automobiles. The attention-grabbing BMW was presented for the first time to a global audience during Frieze Los Angeles in January 2022.

“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,” shared Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

‘A rolling sculpture’

Immediately making an impression, the striking design is expressed in eleven different colours, from blue and yellow to silver and black. Elements of pop art and geometric patterns are evoked as a way to pay homage to the sporty 8 Series Gran Coupe’s intricate shape and contours.

The colours of red and blue call to mind hues traditionally associated with superheroes of the comic book universe, as well as the colours of the high-performance unit BMW M. At the rear, exploding lines of colour serve as a nod to the artist’s 2010 collaboration with BMW, while the “POP!” and vapour thrust imagery on the car’s sides represent THE 8 X JEFF KOONS’ speed and power.

“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,” comments Koons.

Meticulously made

To produce THE 8 X JEFF KOONS’ exterior paintwork, highly specialised professionals at the BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Landshut put in over 200 hours of manual work, often utilising magnifying glasses when applying colour samples.

The vehicles’ interior is a multicoloured feast for the eyes, built with high-end materials and fine leather. Each car comes with a large-format certificate bearing the signature of Jeff Koons and Oliver Zipse, along with a Driver’s Manual dust jacket specially designed by the artist. Fans might notice the use of the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo, which was a deliberate choice by Koons.

After its global unveiling, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will take off on a world tour, making appearances in art fairs and events around Europe, Asia and the Middle East such as the 16th Istanbul Contemporary, Paris Photo, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Art Dubai, West Bund Art & Design Fair Shanghai and Art Basel Hong Kong.

One vehicle from the edition, signed on the tailgate by Jeff Koons, will also be put up for auction at Christie’s in New York on April 4, with proceeds going to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC).