Description
This is an unsold lot from Webb’s Collectors’ Cars auction which took place Sunday 30 April. It’s now available for post-auction offers, please get in touch if you’re interested in purchasing.
Auction Estimate: $400, 000 - $500, 000 NZD
Chassis: WBAGV820X0CK45489
THE 8 X JEFF KOONS is a special edition vehicle designed by American artist Jeff Koons in collaboration with BMW. Contemporarily graced with highly animated livery by globally renowned pop-culture artist, Jeff Koons, this car is exceptional. THE 8 X JEFF KOONS 2022 BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé rolls like a comic book, flashing striking yellows, exploding exclamations and swooshes. Only 99 were produced, making this vehicle extremely rare. Each consumed 285 hours of labour and 11 stages for the paint job alone.
THE 8 X JEFF KOONS is a collaboration inspired by the historically significant BMW Art Car project. This project has an illustrious past, filled with the artworld’s biggest names and dramatic designs. The project began in 1975 when French fine art auctioneer and amateur race car driver Hervé Poulain asked his friend, artist Alexander Calder, to design a car he could race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The result was a BMW 3. 0 CSL covered in Calder’s signature bright colours and abstract shapes. This collaboration sparked a tradition that continues to this day, with over 19 different artists creating one-of-a-kind BMW Art Cars, including luminaries such as Roy Lichtenstein, Esther Mahlangu, Jenny Holzer, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Ólafur Elíasson, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Cao Fei and John Baldessari, among others.
In 2010, Koons was invited by BMW to create the 17th instalment of their Art Car series. Koons was selected of course due to his global fame and artworld prestige. He was born in 1955, in York, Pennsylvania and studied at both the Art Institute of Chicago and the Maryland Institute College of Art before moving to New York City in the late 1970s. He gained notoriety in the 1980s with his “Banality” series, which featured sculptures of everyday objects rendered in high-gloss materials.
He is known for his provocative and controversial art that explores themes of consumerism, popular culture, and kitsch. Koons’ artworks often involve everyday objects, such as balloon animals, vacuum cleaners, and porcelain figurines, that are transformed into larger-than-life sculptures through his meticulous fabrication process.
Koons has exhibited his work at major museums and galleries around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Tate Modern. In 2013, his sculpture “Balloon Dog (Orange)” sold for a record-breaking USD$58. 4 million at auction, making it the most expensive work by a living artist ever sold at the time. Koons continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary art and has influenced generations of artists with his boundary pushing work.
The 2010 Koons’ Art Car design was based on the BMW M3 GT2 race car, and it featured a vibrant, multi-coloured design with bold lines and abstract shapes. The design incorporates images of speeding cars, vibrant colours, and even Koons’ own iconic Balloon Dog sculpture. The same year it competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Following the success of this collaboration, Koons was again invited by BMW to create a specialised limited edition road-worthy car in 2017 by BMW’s Head of Cultural Engagement, Thomas Girst. After years of development, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS was born. This elaborately designed vehicle in BMW’s history was first unveiled in March 2022 at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair.
Koons explained that his design aimed to create an impression of energy explosions taking place when the car sped by on the track. The design process is meticulous, taking over 200 hours to complete, with trade experts carefully applying the design through a process of painting, sanding, and masking. As a result, only four cars can be produced per week.
Inside the car, the seats are made of striking red and blue leather, including custom floor mats and illuminated door sills that feature Jeff Koons’ signature. The car also comes equipped with a high-end sound system and a range of advanced safety features. The artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver’s Manual. One additional signature of the artist is let into the cupholder panel. Koons deliberately chose the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo for these inscriptions, referencing the marque with his marking.
Under the hood, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS is powered by a 4. 4-litre turbocharged V8 engine that produces a maximum power of 530 PS (523 bhp - 390 kW) at 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 750 N. m at 1800 rpm. The power is transmitted to the road by the all-wheel drive (AWD) with an 8-speed Automatic gearbox. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3. 9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kmph. For road holding, handling behaviour and ride comfort, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé has Independent Double Wishbones, coil springs, front and rear suspension and Multilink. Stock tire sizes are 245/ 35 on 20-inch rims at the front, and 275/ 30 on 20-inch rims at the rear. For stopping power, the 8 Series Gran Coupé braking system includes the innovative addition of Vented Discs at the front and Vented Discs at the rear.
Koons describes the THE 8 X JEFF KOONS as “his dream car”, combining sportiness and flashiness with minimalist and conceptual design elements. The design lines grow bigger from the hood towards the trunk, creating a sense of forward movement, while the “POP!” and vapour thrust design elements add to the overall impact of the car.
THE 8 X JEFF KOONS comes complete with a special plaque and certificate of authenticity signed by Koons and BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse adding a unique momento to an already exceptional collectors’ opportunity.
With just delivery kms on the clock, whether this is a road car or a piece of art is up for debate. At Webb’s, we think that’s not mutually exclusive. With minuscule build numbers of only 99 built worldwide, this is the only one available in New Zealand. This provides excellent investment potential for art and car enthusiasts alike, making it a highly sought-after collector’s item.
The vehicle will be sold unregistered and without a current WOF.
