Original cars with expressive colours based on the pointillist technique celebrated their world premiere at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2016.
Through the creative collaboration between BMW Group Design and Garage Italia Customs, the innovative colour and material philosophy of two prototype vehicles based on BMW i models was born. The BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade and BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade were presented on 30 September at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2016 in Paris. Their premiere in the French capital is also a preview of special versions of the BMW i3 and BMW i8, with an exterior design philosophy inspired by that of the prototypes, which will be available from the beginning of 2017.
What the two prototypes have in common are the exterior surfaces that captivate with the revolutionary and advanced character of the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The designers applied a colour mixing technique based on a painting style widely used in the late 19th - early 20th century, achieving a highly expressive appearance. "Lapo Elkann is a pioneer in the marriage of the modern element, the automobile and design. As a designer, I find this style extremely exciting," explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. "With the BMW i, we have managed to overcome past limitations in car design through the use of completely new materials. For this reason, the advanced expressiveness of the Garage Italia CrossFade versions harmonises perfectly with the spirit of the BMW i3 and BMW i8."
In June 2016, Garage Italia Customs presented the BMW i8 Futurism Edition with exterior surfaces inspired by painting. The design of the BMW i8 Futurism Edition, which marked the 50th anniversary of BMW Italia, was based on the painting "Lampada ad Arco" by futuristic artist Giacomo Balla. "Technological development and the constant search for innovation are core values for both Garage Italia Customs and BMW," adds Lapo Elkann, President and Founder of Garage Italia Customs. "BMW i cars offer an exploratory, visual journey into the future of mobility by our designers. The CrossFade project was a wonderful opportunity to create something beyond the traditional idea of painting a vehicle through stunning effects with unique geometric shapes."
The design of the Parisian prototypes is inspired by the visual mixing of colours, a style that defines the artistic movement of Pointe de la Pointe (late 19th century). The word pointillism comes from the French 'point' meaning dot. According to this painting technique, primary colours are placed evenly, dot by dot, directly on the surface. As a result, the details of the colours merge as a whole with the help of the brain rather than vision, and a very intense glow is achieved. The selective variety of dimensions and gaps allows both the accuracy and harmony of the colour components to be controlled.
On the exterior of the BMW i 8 Garage Italia CrossFade, colour changes between Protonic Blue metallic and Protonic Dark Silver metallic highlight the lines and curves of the vehicle. In addition, the colour canvas is composed of triangular elements, a style that promotes both the overall impression and the dynamism of the plug-in hybrid sports car, which is already reflected in its design. A complex painting process in which the car, which was painted in Protonic Blue metallic, was initially covered with adhesive film contributed to the successful realisation. This created the desired geometric shape with absolute precision during the application of the second coat of Protonic Dark Silver metallic paint. The interior of the cabin reflects the exterior colour style of the BMW i 8 Garage Italia CrossFade with the smooth transition from the dark silver of the front section to the pure blue of the rear being reflected in Alcantara leather that now covers the central tunnel, side panels and roof lining. The colour structure of the surfaces and seats in Foglizzo leather, such as Protonic Blue and the Alcantara perforated trim are accentuated by the use of contrasting colours.
In the case of the BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade, the colour transition in the front and side panels is vertical. The amount of blue decreases progressing upwards until it merges with the black roof and bonnet. The smooth transition is created by a transparent sticker with imprinted round colour accents that symbolise the driving pleasure that the electric five-door car offers and gradually becomes more and more pronounced. Similarly, the colour philosophy of the cabin is highlighted by high-quality Alcantara fabrics and trim that emphasise the premium character of the car. The basic colour in each case is Protonic Blue, which is now also available as an option for the BMW i3 and exclusively in combination with the 94Ah high-voltage battery.
