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OWN THE MOMENT.
As BMW we believe in one thing above all: in courage. A trait, that is deeply routed in our DNA, and shows in everything we do. As courage is independent and disruptive, it shatters and awakens. It is the audacity, to question everything – and never take “no“ for an answer. It’s the boldness, to always keep going and never stop reinventing ourselves. It is the reason the only direction we know is forward on our quest to reach new levels of excellence. And to drive the pioneers of our culture to challenge tomorrow. As a premium automotive partner, we create unique and inspiring moments along the way. Because that’s where a new kind of luxury is born.
OWN THE MOMENT.
As BMW we believe in one thing above all: in courage. A trait, that is deeply routed in our DNA, and shows in everything we do. As courage is independent and disruptive, it shatters and awakens. It is the audacity, to question everything – and never take “no“ for an answer. It’s the boldness, to always keep going and never stop reinventing ourselves. It is the reason the only direction we know is forward on our quest to reach new levels of excellence. And to drive the pioneers of our culture to challenge tomorrow. As a premium automotive partner, we create unique and inspiring moments along the way. Because that’s where a new kind of luxury is born.
A NEW KIND OF LUXURY.
Find out, how we keep reinventing ourselves.
FROM THE ORBIT TO THE HIGHWAY.
In the pursuit of uniqueness, a vehicle was created that is out of this world: the BMW Individual M850i NIGHT SKY. The cornerstone for this unique project, which benefited from input of the Max Planck Institute, is the oldest iron meteorite in the world. The fusion of this extremely rare material and BMW Individual creates an unprecedented level of exclusivity. The two-tone exterior is a tribute to the “blue hour” – a phenomenon that appears in the sky at dusk with colours ranging from cyan blue and azure blue to night blue as well as black. Distinctive elements such as front spoiler, air breather, mirror caps, and disc brakes adopt the signature orthogonal shape of an iron meteorite, the so-called Widmanstätten structure. The unique piece is mounted on 20” BMW Individual light-alloy wheels in 730i V-spoke design. As soon as you open the door, the filigree backlit NIGHT SKY lettering on the door sill welcomes you, flanked by two mosaics created from the meteorite. In the interior, the centre console forms the nucleus of the vehicle design and engineering: the panels, the Start/Stop button, the iDrive and gear selector levers have been refined with a mosaic design and 600g of the rare meteorite material. This first use ever of BMW Individual full leather in three elegant colours and with a contrasting Widmanstätten structure marks a new standard in the upholstery trade. The truly extra-terrestrial meets the absolute extraordinary – redefining the limits of what is possible.
THE ART OF SHOWING TRUE GREATNESS.
A conversation about luxury, space and the first BMW X7 – with the head of top-class design at BMW Jacek Fröhlich and star architect Hadi Teherani.
Read the full interview with Hacek and Hadi below.
Mr. Fröhlich, Mr. Teherani, how is exciting design created?
Fröhlich: The proportions play a very important role – in design there must always be the question of how the bigger picture fits together, how everything is perfectly coordinated. Only then do the lines and materials that give the vehicle its form and character traits such as dynamism, tranquillity, casualness or luxury come into play.
Teherani: To make a room work, you have to stage it. And here we have many opportunities to say what we want to express. As an architect, for example, I choose a vehicle according to how the model affects me from the inside. I need to feel comfortable and have an overview of the bigger picture.
How do you create space that is elegant and sophisticated at the same time?
Teherani: Just as a philosopher expresses himself through words and writing, we can do this through spaces. Quite an extreme example: When you enter a cathedral, the height and size of the room suggest something. The individual should feel small and be impressed by the grandeur.
Fröhlich: In automotive design, this is a fine line, because we naturally want to create something new and exciting. We want to arouse enthusiasm. And size is an important factor here. The real art is to never make the mistake of promising more from the outside than we can deliver in the interior. If you take a look at the BMW X7, you can see a high driver's cab on the outside, which suggests an extraordinary amount of space inside. A promise we'll keep.
Teherani: And then it's the details that make a large room seem really pleasant. You can direct things the way you need them through proportions and details.
What should people feel when they enter the BMW X7?
Teherani: Depending on the design, a room like a car can embrace or reject you. And when you're in a vehicle, you want to feel safe.
Fröhlich: I find spaciousness itself fascinating. The interior of the BMW X7, for example, is not only tailored to the driver, but also offers undreamt-of space for all occupants, and this space is intended to arouse certain emotions through its aesthetics and equipment. In the interior, we enclose the passengers by running a continuous line from front to back. This gives the occupants the feeling of being embraced, which is very evident in the cockpit, for example. And that creates a feeling of freedom and security at the same time.
Teherani: In architecture, we say: Space is luxury. The larger the room, the more luxury is possible. You might get by with less space, but generosity is a beautiful feeling that we can create with our work. It's a desirable form of luxury.
THE PURSUIT OF INSPIRATION.
Progressive, creative, inspiring: these are the qualities that we – as the BMW brand – have been committed to for over a century. Independent and forward-thinking figures have motivated and inspired us – the creative elite, whose creations and ideas have brought us unique moments and unexpected perspectives. Pioneers of our time and voices of the future, who inspire progress in technology and design. Make the existing obsolete and turn their vision into the new reality.
THE PURSUIT OF INSPIRATION.
Progressive, creative, inspiring: these are the qualities that we – as the BMW brand – have been committed to for over a century. Independent and forward-thinking figures have motivated and inspired us – the creative elite, whose creations and ideas have brought us unique moments and unexpected perspectives. Pioneers of our time and voices of the future, who inspire progress in technology and design. Make the existing obsolete and turn their vision into the new reality.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF ARCHITECTURE.
Remment “Rem” Koolhaas, born in Rotterdam in 1944, shapes his field like no other. With the terms he coined himself – like “Generic City” and “XL Architecture” – the world-famous architect promotes the idea that a city can no longer be planned – it just emerges. Because that is simply the culture of our time. In 2000, he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize for the philosophical views and thinking that form the creative core of his masterpieces. With the “Office for Metropolitan Architecture”, which he founded in 1975, he plans and implements unique projects in Europe, Asia and America. His most famous buildings include the Casa de Música in Porto, the CCTV headquarters in Beijing, and “De Rotterdam” – the largest building in the Netherlands – designed for his hometown.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF ARCHITECTURE.
Remment “Rem” Koolhaas, born in Rotterdam in 1944, shapes his field like no other. With the terms he coined himself – like “Generic City” and “XL Architecture” – the world-famous architect promotes the idea that a city can no longer be planned – it just emerges. Because that is simply the culture of our time. In 2000, he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize for the philosophical views and thinking that form the creative core of his masterpieces. With the “Office for Metropolitan Architecture”, which he founded in 1975, he plans and implements unique projects in Europe, Asia and America. His most famous buildings include the Casa de Música in Porto, the CCTV headquarters in Beijing, and “De Rotterdam” – the largest building in the Netherlands – designed for his hometown.
NO STRUCTURE WITHOUT CHAOS.
One must discard old plans to make new ones come true. Early on, Rem Koolhaas learned to create his very own structures out of disorder. He also applies this special approach to architecture. The demolition of buildings is necessary in order to reinvent oneself and the identity of cities time and again. In addition to his work as an architect, he also publishes writings in which he reflects on the role of chaos in society and architecture. In 1995, for instance, he published the manifesto “S, M, L, XL.” Koolhaas argues that traditional architectural principles such as composition, scaling and proportion no longer apply in the design of large buildings. He demonstrated this impressively in the planning of the new Eurolille city centre in Lille, France.
THE PIONEER AMONG DESIGNERS.
The renowned graphic designer and art director Stefan Sagmeister is considered a creative pioneer. Born in 1962 in Bregenz, Austria, today he lives in New York where he runs the creative agency “Sagmeister & Walsh”. Since 1993, they have produced masterpieces in all shapes and forms – from small illustrations to impressive exhibitions and global campaigns. His most well-known works include the visual identities and characteristic cover designs for musicians like the Rolling Stones, the Talking Heads, Lou Reed or The Guggenheim Museum – for which he won two Grammys, among other prizes.
THE PIONEER AMONG DESIGNERS.
The renowned graphic designer and art director Stefan Sagmeister is considered a creative pioneer. Born in 1962 in Bregenz, Austria, today he lives in New York where he runs the creative agency “Sagmeister & Walsh”. Since 1993, they have produced masterpieces in all shapes and forms – from small illustrations to impressive exhibitions and global campaigns. His most well-known works include the visual identities and characteristic cover designs for musicians like the Rolling Stones, the Talking Heads, Lou Reed or The Guggenheim Museum – for which he won two Grammys, among other prizes.
THE ART OF OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS.
If you never know fear, you’ll never have a vision – and never find the courage to develop. It’s thanks to this attitude that the legendary designer Stefan Sagmeister is a leader in his profession with his hard-hitting and inspiring works. He always surprises with unexpected works of arts and, for example, brings handwriting to life, or transforms people into canvases. He always tries to forge his own way, to create and provoke unseen perspectives, instead of accepting the status quo. With his extroverted, innovative and enthusiastic pieces, he creates new worlds, opening the door to his unique and courageous imagination.
THE BEAUTY OF MOVEMENT.
A fascinating event and a unique moment. BMW moved visitors at Art Basel Miami with a performance to beat them all: the BMW Concept 8 Series with 300 illuminated, autonomous flying drones in perfect choreography. It was an homage to visionary technical perfection and the captivating aesthetics of movement.
THE BEAUTY OF MOVEMENT.
A fascinating event and a unique moment. BMW moved visitors at Art Basel Miami with a performance to beat them all: the BMW Concept 8 Series with 300 illuminated, autonomous flying drones in perfect choreography. It was an homage to visionary technical perfection and the captivating aesthetics of movement.
TWO VISIONARIES, ONE VISION.
Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta are the artists behind Duo Studio Drift. They met at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and together they opened Studio Drift in Amsterdam in 2006. Their artistic work focuses on interactive exhibits composed of films, sculptures and other objects. They take great inspiration from nature, which they imitate in their work using state-of-the-art technologies. The approach makes each one of their projects both exciting and unique.
THE RETROSPECTIVE.
After the drone performance, Studio Drift expressed their appreciation: “BMW believed in our idea and, as a company, they understand how complicated and complex these innovative processes are.” said Lonneke Gordijn.
AN OCEAN OF EXCLUSIVE OPTIONS
Today, just like when its story began 25 years ago, BMW Individual still applies the principle of handcrafted perfection. This is why BMW Individual is launching a very special and unique model to mark its 25th anniversary: the BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan. This work of art created in collaboration with the traditional Finnish yacht builder Nautor’s Swan is an ode to luxury and exclusivity. It is an automotive masterpiece with an exceptional maritime design producing a unique interplay between road and ocean thanks to the special wooden features in teak – and with a powerful 12-cylinder engine capable of generating an unforgettable driving experience at any moment.