Based on current BMW i models, the i3 Garage Italia CrossFade and i8 Garage Italia concepts are meat to represent a specific color design first brought to life with certain painting genres during the late 19th and early 20th century.
“Lapo Elkann is a pioneer in linking the disciplines of fashion, automobile and design. As a designer, I find this comprehensive approach particularly exciting,” stated BMW Group head of design Adrian van Hooydonk.
“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.”
These aren’t the first cars BMW have worked on alongside Garage Italia Customs. The two companies previously showcased the BMW i8 Futurism Edition back in June, which also featured an exterior inspired by painting. However, the design of the Paris concept cars was more of an optical color mix, a technique used in Pointillism back in the late 19th century. This technique involves “the creation of motifs using small and evenly distributed dashes of color.”
The color of the i8 Garage Italia CrossFade switches between Protonic Blue metallic and Protonic Dark Silver metallic, in turn underscoring the lines and surface contours of the i8’s aggressive exterior. Its interior also features a smooth transition between dark silver and blue on the Alcantara textile that covers the central tunnel, side panels and headliner.
As for the i3 Garage Italia CrossFade, the color transition flows in a vertical direction as opposed to horizontal like on the i8. But, just like with the i8, the color design can also be found inside the cabin where the high-quality textile and Alcantara surfaces help emphasize the car’s premium character.
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