The BMW i8 Futurism Edition is an avant-garde sports car wrapped in an oil painting

By Andrew Hard Published November 16, 2017

BMW’s plug-in hybrid i8 is a stunning look into the future of motoring, one that combines beautiful modern styling and high-tech building materials with a wildly complex and efficient powertrain. Performance and image aside, though, the whole package can feel a bit clinical. The raucous exhaust note is artificial, for instance, and the car features more electronic wizardry than a

Recommended Videos

SpaceX rocket. To give the car some warmth, Italian design house Garage Italia Customs went back in time, not forward.

The Milan-based firm has christened a one-off version of the i8 called the Futurism Edition, which is decorated with a vibrant vinyl wrap inspired by Giacomo Balla’s 1909 painting Street Light. Just like Balla’s original oil artwork, the car features sharp strokes of yellow, red, and purple over its carbon fiber body, brilliantly showcasing European artistry from past and present. Officially, the Futurism Edition is a celebration of BMW’s 50th anniversary in Italy, but for the people behind the project, it’s much more than that.

1 of 4

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

“The BMW i8 Futurism Edition is a practice of style,” said Lapo Elkann, president of Garage Italia Customs. “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.”

Street Light is typically displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, but if you’re on the other side of the pond, you’re in luck — this special i8 is set to star in the 2016 Mille Miglia race on May 19. To drive the past and future dynamic home, the vehicle will run directly behind an iconic BMW 328 driven by BMW Italia CEO Sergio Solero.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says

president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Cars

Kia EV4: everything we know so far

Kia EV4 Front

Kia is continuing to expand its electric car lineup. The EV6 and EV9 have both been out for some time now, and the company is in the middle of rolling out the EV3 in Europe, with a North American release expected next year. After that, it's likely the company will turn to the EV5. But what about after that? Well, that could be where the Kia EV4 comes in.

Kia announced a concept version of the EV4 at its EV Day in 2023, showing off a futuristic-looking hatchback that's seemingly a little smaller than the EV6, but keeps many design elements. Since then, Kia has confirmed very few details about it, though we have seen it shown off at other automotive events. Here's everything we know about the Kia EV4 so far.
Kia EV4 design
The Kia EV4, or at least the concept version of it, is smaller than the EV6, and much smaller than the EV9. It's actually closer in size to a sedan than anything else, though with its open trunk, it could be considered a hatchback. Regardless, it certainly blurs the line between the two. So much so, that in recent months we've actually seen a full hatchback version of the EV4 being tested -- and it's possible that Kia is pivoting the design of the EV4 entirely to be a hatch, or will be releasing both hatchback and sedan versions.

Cars

Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.