BMW has revealed its BMW i3 and i8 Garage Italia Crossfade concepts at the Paris motor show, displaying a new exterior colour treatment for both electric models.
As the name suggests, a crossfade pattern has been applied to the cars, transitioning from blue to grey. On the i8, the fade runs the length of the car, while a vertical fade has been applied to the i3.
Both cars will make production, although possibly not in the same form as the concepts; BMW says that the cars will be available with a derived version of the concepts’ design at the start of next year.
BMW is yet to comment on the cost of the cars over the standard-coloured i3 and i8, how many will be produced or if the design will be available in any other colours.
BMW's chief of design Adrian van Hooydonk oversaw the pattern’s application by Italia Customs boss Lapo Elkann, saying: “Lapo is a pioneer in linking the disciplines of fashion, automobile and design. As a designer, I find this comprehensive approach particularly exciting.”
“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.”
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"BMW's chief of design Adrian
It is Adrian van Hoodwink who needs to get out more.
Why we despise the rich
"A member of the Agnelli family, Elkann was born in New York City, the son of Countess Margherita Agnelli de Pahlen and the American-born Italian writer Alain Elkann. His father is Jewish and his mother is Catholic. He is the brother of John Elkann, the current Chairman of Fiat and the Chairman and CEO of Exor, an investment company controlled by the Agnelli family, which owns Juventus F.C.. Elkann is a grandson of Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli and Marella Agnelli. He is nephew of Don Carlo Caracciolo, founder of Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso - owner of the newspaper la Repubblica, the Italian daily general-interest newspaper. Elkann left Fiat in 2005 after being widely reported as having a serious cocaine and heroin overdose, creating Italia Independent, a lifestyle and clothing brand featuring Italian products. In 2007 he founded Independent Ideas, a communication and advertising agency."
Thank you Wikipedia
And now he's 'consulting' for BMW. Nice to see that the poor lad has landed on his feet.
Am I really reading this?