Unveiling at Paris: BMW i3 and the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade

BMW Group Design and Garage Italia Customs have collaborated to produce two stunning concept cars based on current BMW i models: the BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade and the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade. The cars will be making their preview in a few hours at the beginning of the Mondial de l’Automobile 2016 in Paris. The exterior design of these models were derived from the concept cars. They will be sold in the market in the first quarter of 2017.

The specific color design used for these models was inspired by a painting trend during the late 19th and early 20th century. Optical color mixing was a popular technique used in Pointillism during the late 19th century. It was also the same technique used on these cars.

“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.”

If one looks closely, the accurately defined color changes between Protonic Blue metallic and Protonic Dark Silver metallic on the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade highlights the lines and surface contours of the car. This was achieved in a very complex painting process. For the interior, this i8 has dark silver of the front end of the car and pure blue of the rear end printed on Alcantara textile that now covers the central tunnel, the side panels and the headliner. The surface structure of the interior and the seats in Foglizzo leather, and Protonic Blue and perforated Alcantara is beautiful with the contrasting colors.

The BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade uses a vertical color transition. The blue paint decreases as it rises upwards and merges with the black roof and bonnet.The interior has high-quality textile and Alcantara surfaces as well.

Source: BMW Blog