Launched for the 2016 model year, the sixth-generation BMW 7 Series brought a number of important changes to the nameplate. The first Bimmer to be based on the new modular CLAR platform, the new 7 Series is significantly lighter than its predecessor on top of sporting a new design, a revamped interior with finer materials and new technology, and upgraded six-cylinder and V-8 engines. With the full-size Bimmer already in dealerships, BMW is already rolling out the first special-edition and Individual models, one of which is the 740Li by Esther Mahlangu.

For those wondering who Esther Mahlangu is, she created one of BMW's iconic art cars. Specifically, she designed the 1991-model-year 525i model featuring the Ndebele house painting art. Used by the Ndzundza Ndebele people of South Africa, this unique style involves vibrant colors and geometric shapes that portray communications of personal prayers, self-identification, values, emotions, and marriage. Mahlangu's art car featured such artwork on its entire body, including the wheels, side mirrors and roof. More than 20 years have passed since then, and Mahlangu and BMW teamed up again for a special BMW.

This time around, the Munich-based firm commissioned Mahlangu to customize the interior of a sixth-generation 7 Series that will be auctioned to benefit the charitable art project "The Art Room," which supports five to sixteen year-old children and youths in their development. The car will be unveiled at the Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park, London, in early October, where Esther Mahlangu will speak on the topic of South African art.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW Individual 7 Series by Esther Mahlangu.

What makes the BMW Individual 7 Series by Esther Mahlangu special

On the outside, this unique BMW is like any other 7 Series except for the 20-inch BMW Individual alloy wheels in V-spoke styling. The sedan is also finished in Pure Metal Silver, a paint you can only get as a BMW Individual, but the shade isn't all that special to the untrained eye.

It's inside the cabin that the 740Li-trimmed model received more notable features. First up, the seats, dashboard, door panels, and B-pillars are all wrapped in BMW Individual fine-grain Merino leather, the highest quality leather available for a Bimmer. The upholstery is finished in Smoke White and Black for strong contrast and BMW says that its "natural smoothness and fine structure offers a unique feel." The seats have weave-look stitching and hand-woven piping, while most inserts are in Piano Black, and the headliner in Smoke White Alcantara.

Arguably the most important addition is Esther Mahlangu's unique ornamental shapes on the dashboard and door panel trim. Similar to the Ndebele art seen on the art car that Mahlangu painted in the early 1990s, the geometric shapes and their bright colors add a striking contrast to the luxury car's interior, making it unique and giving it a hand-made feel. The Ndebele decorations were painted on a special, white-colored wood trim that BMW Individual developed for this car and sealed off with several layers of lacquer to ensure their longevity.

Under the hood, the 740Li is as stock as they get, featuring the same 3.0-liter inline-six engine as the standard production model. Output is rated at 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, giving the sedan a 0-to-62 mph sprint of 5.6 seconds and a top speed limited at 155 mph. The transmission is a ZF-built, eight-speed automatic, which paired with the lightweight construction of the car, returns a combined fuel economy of 6.8 liters per 100 km.

Estimates for the auction aren't yet available, but this unique vehicle should sell for much more than it fetches in standard trim. For reference, the 740Li starts from £71,065 in the U.K., and if I were to take a guess, I'd say that Esther Mahlangu's artwork and the Individual upgrades should raise at least £200,000 for charity.

BMW 7 Series

Read our full review on the BMW 7 Series here.