BMW reveals new Art Car by Jeff Koons – one of the 99 cars is bound for Australia

UPDATE, June 29: One of the 99 examples coming to Australia

One of just 99 examples of BMW's '8 X Jeff Koons' Art Car is heading to Australia.

The exclusive edition M850i xDrive Gran Coupé was created by the marque with renowned American artist Jeff Koons, with BMW confirming today that one of the 99 vehicles produced will be available to purchase by a local customer in the third quarter of this year.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but considering it features a multi-coloured exterior and interior, high-end materials, leather and a cupholder lid with edition badging and the artist’s signature finished in Bavarian blue from the BMW logo – don't expect it to come cheap.

Koons previously designed the 17th BMW Art Car, the BMW M3 GT2, which competed in the 2010 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For more about the unique model, read our original story below.

The story to here

February 18: BMW reveals Art Car designed by Jeff Koons

BMW has revealed a new Art Car in conjunction with American artist Jeff Koons.

BMW's iconic Art Car series started in 1975 and continues to this day, allowing famous artists to use a BMW model as their canvas.

The latest such car is the 8 Series X Jeff Koons, designed by Koons and produced by BMW.

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Bright and bash, the Koons' styled Beemer will be made in a limited batch of just 99 units for an undisclosed price – but keen buyers should be aware that his most famous art piece is the sculpture “Rabbit”, which sold for over $125 million in its last auction...so there's no telling what the price tag will be on this exclusive 8 Series.

BMW says the Pop Art livery takes more than 200 hours to apply in its factory and thus only four cars per week are produced. While the exterior is elaborately decorated, underneath is a regular BMW 850i xDrive Gran Coupe with no mechanical changes.

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Inside is a different story, with a Spiderman-inspired mix of red and blue leather upholstery that is bulked out like a superhero's chest. There's a signature by Jeff Koons inside too, and a special plaque matching a special certificate of authenticity signed by Koons and BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse.

“My edition of the BMW 8 Series is my dream car," said Koons.

"It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. I can’t wait to drive it and ride in it, and I hope that people will enjoy the Gran Coupe just as much as I do.

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“On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the hood towards the trunk, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapour thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space, and I like the idea of the car being a global car.”

The first BMW Art Car from the Koons collection will be auctioned in April this year at Christie’s in New York, and the final 98 other units sold directly by BMW with a price upon application.