According to BMW,->ke178 its i division stands for “visionary vehicle concepts->ke169 and technologies->ke1701 and connected mobility services, as well as a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability.” And as such, that concept is represented in 50 countries by the BMW i3->ke4694 and the BMW i8,->ke4622 the latter of which is – according to BMW – the world’s best-selling hybrid->ke147 sports car. One such country is Italy, where BMW Italia has been in the fold for the last 50 years. To celebrate those 50 years, BMW Italia and Garage Italia Customs has teamed up to create a special edition->ke2041 of the BMW i8.

President and Founder of Garage Italia Customs, Lapo Elkann, said, “There was immediate synergy with BMW Italia the very first time we met for the i8 Futurism Edition project. Garage Italia Customs and the BMW brand both share, in fact, all the values connected to technology evolution and the continuous search for innovation in their specific sectors. The BMW i8 Futurism Edition is a practice of style. It gave the Garage Italia Customs Maestros a chance to celebrate a car which is projected towards the future of mobility. At the same time, it honors Italian art with Giacomo Balla, who is a prominent figure of the Futurism movement.”

According to Sergio Solero, the President and CEO of BMW Italia, the BMW i8 Futurism Edition “represents the parting of a sports car->ke506 of the future with Italian creativity and art.” So, with that said, let's take a look at this new, radical-looking i8 special edition.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW i8 Futurism Edition.

What makes the BMW i8 Futurism Edition special

BMW press releases tend to be a mile long after ink is put to paper, but this time, BMW has been surprising quiet about its newest special edition. If there are any upgrades to the interior or drivetrain, neither BMW Italia or Garage Italia Customs has said a peep about it. So, the highlight of this special edition is the crazy looking finish gives me a whole new outlook on the i8.

If you’ve ever been to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, then you’ve probably put two and two together already, but if you haven’t, the exterior finish is a replication of Giacomo Balla’s Lampada ad Arco – a painting that depicts a streetlight that is powered by electricity under the moonlight. According to BMW’s press release, “The revolutionary color technique and the advent of electricity in the 1900s are strictly linked to the future technology of the BMW i8” So, with that in mind, the finish makes a little more sense than it did before right?

In my opinion, it’s a pretty sweet color layout for any car, let alone the i8. For some reason, the massive splash of coloring really seems to fit the car, almost like it is exploding for every panel. As you can see, the wrap is actually strategically placed as well, leaving the center of the roof, part of the rear end, and a small part of the side skirts in a black finish. Furthermore, some of the i8 blue highlights exist around the artwork, really giving off a strong accent to the plethora of colors.

So, there you have it. No fancy battery upgrades or engine upgrades to talk about. No performance enhancements or body modifications. Just a piece of fine Italian art applied to the exterior of the car. It might not seem like a lot to those of us who aren’t into Italian art, but it still looks pretty damn cool anyway. If you want to see how the vehicle looks in motion, this specific model is set to run in the 2016 Mille Miglia following the BMW 328 that will be driven by Sergio Solero, so be sure to check that out for yourself.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 was introduced to us BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, but went on sale for the 2014 model year as the BMW i8. It is powered by a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that sends 231 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed transmission, and an electric motor that can send 131 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. Total system output is listed as 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The onboard battery can be charged in 2.5 hours on a normal 120-volt household plug and can power the i8 in all-electric mode for up to 22 miles. It doesn’t sound like much in a world where vehicles like the all-electric Tesla Model S can go upward of 300 miles on a charge, but for a hybrid sport’s car, it isn’t too bad. At last count, the i8 could hit the 62 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 mph. Maximum range with battery and gasoline clocks in at 372 miles with the car set in “ECO PRO” mode.

Read our full review on the BMW i8 here.