BMW’s Art Car Collection which began in 1975 is world famous and has been displayed in many countries (including Malaysia).
Every few years, a renowned artist will be invited to create an Art Car, usually using an existing BMW model although for the 16th Art Car, Danish artist Olafur Eliasson used a hydrogen-fuelled BMW racing concept car for his project.
Next addition to ‘rolling sculptures’
For the 20th BMW Art Car, the carmaker has announced a collaboration with internationally renowned New York-based artist Julie Mehretu who will be given total creative freedom to design the next instalment in BMW’s legendary collection of ‘rolling sculptures’.
The ‘canvas’ for Mehretu is the BMW M Hybrid V8. This is BMW M’s new competition car in endurance racing with a hybrid drive system. The racing car is currently competing successfully in the GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) class of the North American IMSA endurance racing series. BMW M Motorsport will also return to the FIA World Endurance Championship in the 2024 season. When the BMW M Hybrid V8 runs in the 2024 Le Mans race, it will be the first BMW M Motorsport prototype since the BMW V12 LMR won the classic in 1999.
To race in 2024 Le Mans
After Mehretu has completed her creation, BMW will enter the new BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car in the 24-hour race at Le Mans in June 2024. This continues an almost 50-year tradition that began with French racing driver and art lover Herve Poulain asking artist Alexander Calder to paint an automobile. The result was a BMW 3.0 CSL that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975, and began the BMW Art Cars.
SOME BMW ART CARS SINCE 1975
