Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW brings burlesque, Warhol, M1 and 6 Series Gran Coupe to Paris Photo LA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/bmw-brings-burlesque-warhol-m1-and-6-series-grand-coupe-to-par/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/bmw-brings-burlesque-warhol-m1-and-6-series-grand-coupe-to-par/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/bmw-brings-burlesque-warhol-m1-and-6-series-grand-coupe-to-par/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



BMW has worked with Paris Photo for ten years. This year, the photography exposition lands in Paramount Studios in Los Angeles for the first time, and BMW is not only coming with it, the Bavarians are bringing the most famous Art Car of all: the 1979 M1 painted by Andy Warhol. For those attending the show, there will also be making-of video of Warhol working on the car - but if you remember the mini lecture that EVO magazine's Henry Catchpole gave on the Art Cars, you'll remember that Warhol finished the car so quickly that the cameraman barely had time to get the film rolling.

With that will also be a series of photos of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe dropped into noir scenes accompanied by burlesque models, all taken by photographer Uwe Düttmann. It's the first time they'll be exhibited at Paris Photo. You can check out a few of them in the high-res gallery above, and there's a press release below with more info.

Continue reading BMW brings burlesque, Warhol, M1 and 6 Series Gran Coupe to Paris Photo LA

BMW brings burlesque, Warhol, M1 and 6 Series Gran Coupe to Paris Photo LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy warholart carbmwbmw 6 series grand coupebmw m1los angelesm1paramount studiosparis photoMon, 22 Apr 2013 06:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20545539/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/22/bmw-brings-burlesque-warhol-m1-and-6-series-grand-coupe-to-par/20545539/article-detail.xml 20545539 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-6-series-gran-coupe-burlesque_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-6-series-gran-coupe-burlesque.jpg <![CDATA[How to make art prints with your BMW M6]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/22/how-to-make-art-prints-with-your-bmw-m6/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/22/how-to-make-art-prints-with-your-bmw-m6/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/22/how-to-make-art-prints-with-your-bmw-m6/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Matt Mullins has done everything from stunts in movies to driving with the United States secret service, but the BMW Performance Driving School chief instructor has never done this before. "This" in this case is creating postcards using a BMW M6 as the printing press.

A pressurized ink system was mounted in the trunk, which spayed ink up at the rear tires. It was controlled via a switch in the cabin of the turbocharged BMW coupe. Mullin then took the M6 out onto the track at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, where pieces of paper were placed in straight lines. Matt just had to spray the ink and drive over the paper, but keeping a high-powered machine such as the M6 in a perfectly straight line is still a little challenging. You'll just have to check out the video to see how he did.

When it was all over, the results of this little experiment were cut up into one-of-a-kind postcards, which BMW is sending out to M enthusiasts across the country. Sure you could create another BMW art car, or use the rear tires to do your best Jackson Pollock, but this way a great many fans will get to own a piece of yet another great intersection of BMW life and the art world.

Continue reading How to make art prints with your BMW M6

How to make art prints with your BMW M6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 bmw m6 coupeart carbmwbmw art carbmw mbmw motorsportm6m6 coupeThu, 22 Nov 2012 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20384593/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/22/how-to-make-art-prints-with-your-bmw-m6/20384593/article-detail.xml 20384593 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/m6-postcard_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/m6-postcard.jpg <![CDATA[Tour BMW's Art Car collection with <i>EVO</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/21/tour-bmws-art-car-collection-with-evo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/21/tour-bmws-art-car-collection-with-evo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/21/tour-bmws-art-car-collection-with-evo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The last time we heard from EVO magazine's Henry Catchpole he was drifting a Caterham Supersports through the snow up the side of a French mountain.

There's more to the Scotsman than mad antics, it seems. After studying philosophy and art history, the final hurdle to getting his degree was writing his dissertation, the subjects of which were the BMW Art Cars. So, who better to take us on a tour of some of the works in the Art Car collection while it was in London for the Olympics?

Starting with the BMW 3.0-liter CSL dressed up by Alexander Calder and raced at Le Mans, and alighting on various models right through to the BMW M3 GT2 by Jeff Koons that was recently spotted in a fjord, the trip down art history lane is smart and entertaining. There are even background digressions to add to the fun. For instance: Warhol painted the M1 in just 28 minutes - so quickly that the camera crew hired just for the purpose didn't have time to film him painting it.

You can take the full tour with Catchpole in the video below, and the EVO site has photos of the cars when you want to slow things down.

Continue reading Tour BMW's Art Car collection with EVO

Tour BMW's Art Car collection with EVO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carbmwbmw art carevohenry catchpolevideovideosyoutubeFri, 21 Sep 2012 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20329565/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/21/tour-bmws-art-car-collection-with-evo/20329565/article-detail.xml 20329565 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/bmwartcarevo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/bmwartcarevo.jpg <![CDATA[Acura's ILX Hybrid gets all ate up with LED lighting]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/acuras-ilx-hybrid-gets-all-ate-up-with-led-lighting/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/acuras-ilx-hybrid-gets-all-ate-up-with-led-lighting/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/acuras-ilx-hybrid-gets-all-ate-up-with-led-lighting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Acura ILX Hybrid LED art car

Acura has paired its 2013 ILX with the band Metric on its U.S. tour. To keep people as intrigued outside the concert as they are inside, Acura turned the ILX into an LED art car with a 3D display where there should have been an interior.

Creating the LED light show took 4,600 hours, that was for the installation of 7,500 individually controllable LEDs activated by more than 1,100 lines of programming. You can watch it in action in the video below.

Continue reading Acura's ILX Hybrid gets all ate up with LED lighting

Acura's ILX Hybrid gets all ate up with LED lighting originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 acura ilxacuraart carilxilx hybridledled lightmarketingmetricmetric syntheticavideovideosMon, 20 Aug 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20304421/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/20/acuras-ilx-hybrid-gets-all-ate-up-with-led-lighting/20304421/article-detail.xml 20304421 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/acurailxmetrics_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/acurailxmetrics.jpg <![CDATA[You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz art car covered in flies

The intersection of automobiles and art is always an interesting locale, and one french sculptor has spiced things up a bit with a Mercedes-Benz covered in flies. The premise sounds a bit shaky to be sure, but artist Natacha Mercier says the concept was inspired by something she witnessed back in 2007. While standing on a side street, she saw a BMW owner drive up, park and get out of the car. Clad all in white and with plenty of gold chains around his neck, the driver then proceeded to spit-polish a spot on his chrome wheels. According to Mercier, the girls around him (including herself) were "dropping like flies" while he strutted around like a peacock.

Mercier decided to turn the situation on its ear with this project. Mercier coated an old Merc in fly paper, parked it a greenhouse and released 100,000 flies. When the body was fully coated in insects, the artist, her brother and two friends piled in to drive around the streets of Toulouse, France. The mixed media artist is no stranger to working on auto-related subjects - she previously dressed up a Mercedes in a wedding gown and is now working on a new piece involving an Opel Corsa.

Check out the bizarre scene in the videos below.

Continue reading You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz

You can catch more flies with a Mercedes-Benz originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart carartist natacha mercierautomotive artbugscar artfliesflyinsectinsectsmercedes-benz covered in fliesnatacha mercierWed, 01 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20291034/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/01/you-can-catch-more-flies-with-a-mercedes-benz/20291034/article-detail.xml 20291034 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/mercedes-flies-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/mercedes-flies-628.jpg <![CDATA[Porsche plasters 2M faces on Cayman to celebrate Facebook milestone [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/porsche-plasters-2m-faces-on-cayman-to-celebrate-facebook-milest/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/porsche-plasters-2m-faces-on-cayman-to-celebrate-facebook-milest/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/porsche-plasters-2m-faces-on-cayman-to-celebrate-facebook-milest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Facebook Porsche Cayman S

We all know what happens when Porsche and social media collide; the world gets another art car. As you may recall, the German sportscar manufacturer created a special version of its 911 GT3 R Hybrid when it crested one million fans on Facebook last February. Now, one year later, Porsche has garnered a staggering two million fans, and the company has taken it upon itself to slather a Cayman S in the faces of ts adoring supporters. With its red-tinted images on a white field, the design gives the Cayman S more than a passing resemblance to the famous Porsche 917 that garnered the company its first Le Mans win.

Porsche plans to display its Facebook Cayman S at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until January 27. For those of us who can't make the jump to Germany, Porsche has created a special site that provides 360-degree views of the car as well as search function to help you find your face on the Cayman. Head over to the site to check it out.

UPDATE: Porsche has clarified that every fan's face is not, in fact, on the 2-Mill Cayman due to Facebook requiring the automaker to ask permission before they could use people's pics. So unless you opted in for the stunt, don't look for your mug.

Porsche plasters 2M faces on Cayman to celebrate Facebook milestone [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 porsche cayman s2m.porsche.comart carcaymanfacebookporscheporsche 2 million facebook fansporsche caymanporsche cayman sporsche museumsocial mediaSat, 21 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153116/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/21/porsche-plasters-2m-faces-on-cayman-to-celebrate-facebook-milest/20153116/article-detail.xml 20153116 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/facebook-porsche-cayman-s-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/facebook-porsche-cayman-s-628.jpg <![CDATA[Renault gets creative with Twingo art cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/renault-gets-creative-with-twingo-art-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/renault-gets-creative-with-twingo-art-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/renault-gets-creative-with-twingo-art-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Renault Twingo 55 FBG by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

Art cars are becoming de rigeur once again, but while most automakers getting in on the action contract painters of some sort or another to spruce up their products, Renault has gone in a slightly different direction for its latest project.

To celebrate the arrival of its new Twingo hatchback, the French automaker has brought in a musician, a chef, a fashion designer and a product designer to give their take on the Twingo's interior.

Pop singer Nicola Roberts installed a mobile recording studio and a dressing trailer's worth of equipment in hers. Fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac turned his rolling canvas into a stately presidential city car. Designer Nils Holger Moormann made his Twingo into a mobile "reading room." And chef Davide Scabin drew inspiration from pasta in his interpretation.

Intriguing ideas, all, if a tad impractical. But the photos speak for themselves, so check 'em out in our high-res image gallery and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Renault gets creative with Twingo art cars

Renault gets creative with Twingo art cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carart carsdavide scabingirls aloudjean-charles de castelbajacnicola robertsnils holger moormannrenaultrenault twingotwingoTue, 27 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20134553/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/27/renault-gets-creative-with-twingo-art-cars/20134553/article-detail.xml 20134553 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/twingo-presidential_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/twingo-presidential.jpg <![CDATA[Artist createst indelible Camaro graphics with Sharpie markers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/artist-createst-indelible-camaro-graphics-with-sharpie-markers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/artist-createst-indelible-camaro-graphics-with-sharpie-markers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/artist-createst-indelible-camaro-graphics-with-sharpie-markers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Remember the Sharpie Lamborghini Gallardo from 2007? A Chevrolet Camaro has been given a similar treatment courtesy of Maryland-based professional pinstriper Chris Dunlop. Stepping away from his cans of paint and fine brushes, Dunlop has created two magnificently detailed Sharpie tapestries where the original pinstripes would have been.

According to LSX TV, Dunlop says this Camaro is the fourth car he's decorated like this, and others have followed. Ten pens gave their lives to the cause of art, as well as a few layers of clearcoat to make sure the ink remains permanent. If you happen to think you could do this at home to your own ride, have a look at the detail shots in the gallery - a Sharpie isn't just a marker in Dunlop's hands.

Artist createst indelible Camaro graphics with Sharpie markers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carcamarocar artchevrolet camarochris dunlopdunloppinstripepinstripingsharpiesharpie camarosharpie markerMon, 17 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20083058/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/17/artist-createst-indelible-camaro-graphics-with-sharpie-markers/20083058/article-detail.xml 20083058 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/dunlopsharpiecamaro_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/dunlopsharpiecamaro.jpg <![CDATA[Frank Stella's BMW M1 art car finds a new home in the Hamptons]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/07/frank-stellas-bmw-m1-art-car-finds-a-new-home-in-the-hamptons/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/07/frank-stellas-bmw-m1-art-car-finds-a-new-home-in-the-hamptons/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/07/frank-stellas-bmw-m1-art-car-finds-a-new-home-in-the-hamptons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

1979 BMW M1 Procar art car by Frank Stella

Art cars are growing in popularity, with a number of automakers and their subsidiaries getting on board the trend. But BMW is where it all started. The German automaker has been at it since 1975. A good blogger's dozen of them have been commissioned for BMW over the years, and every one of them has remained in the company's private collection. Except one.

That one is the M1 Procar you see here, painted by Frank Stella in 1979. It remains the only example in the series that was created for a private individual with BMW's blessing. After years in the Guggenheim, Bonhams auctioned it off a couple of months ago at Monterey for a whopping $854,000 - well above estimate.

So who bought it? Jonathan Sobel, owner of (among other interests) BMW of Southampton, way out at the eastern end of New York's Long Island. The dealership is just settling in to its new showroom on Montauk Highway, and that's where the M1 art car will be showcased for much of the new year ahead. So if your plans include a trip out to the Hamptons, you may want to stop by for a rare glimpse. Press release after the jump.

Continue reading Frank Stella's BMW M1 art car finds a new home in the Hamptons

Frank Stella's BMW M1 art car finds a new home in the Hamptons originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart carbmwbmw art carbmw m1bmw m1 art carbmw m1 procarbmw of southamptonfrank stellajonathan sobelm1sobelstellaFri, 07 Oct 2011 08:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20074235/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/07/frank-stellas-bmw-m1-art-car-finds-a-new-home-in-the-hamptons/20074235/article-detail.xml 20074235 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/web628-stellabmw1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/web628-stellabmw1.jpg <![CDATA[Where some see the hood of a Porsche 911 GT2, others see a canvas]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/23/where-some-see-the-hood-of-a-porsche-911-gt2-others-see-a-canva/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/23/where-some-see-the-hood-of-a-porsche-911-gt2-others-see-a-canva/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/23/where-some-see-the-hood-of-a-porsche-911-gt2-others-see-a-canva/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Porsche 911 GT2

The difference between an artist and any other person is not about skill or ability to wield whatever instruments are required to render their work, it's about how an artist perceives things around them. So while most of us may look at, say, the front hood of a Porsche and see a hood, an artist may see it as a canvas.

That was, at least, evidently the case with a group of 19 Latin American artists who, curated by Argentinean painter Jorge Gómez, turned 24 hoods from the 911 GT2 into works of art. Their media included materials ranging from acrylic to vulcanized rubber, and the results are being displayed from now until January 8th at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. If your plans don't include a trip to Deutschland, though, you can take a virtual trip through the high-res image gallery.

Continue reading Where some see the hood of a Porsche 911 GT2, others see a canvas

Where some see the hood of a Porsche 911 GT2, others see a canvas originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911911 gt2artart carColección GomézPorsche 911Porsche 911 GT2Porsche 911 GT2 Colección Gomézporsche museumstuttgartFri, 23 Sep 2011 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20049473/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/23/where-some-see-the-hood-of-a-porsche-911-gt2-others-see-a-canva/20049473/article-detail.xml 20049473 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/gomez-911-gt2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/gomez-911-gt2.jpg <![CDATA[Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/ford-takes-art-to-the-street-with-focus-in-glasgow/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/ford-takes-art-to-the-street-with-focus-in-glasgow/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/25/ford-takes-art-to-the-street-with-focus-in-glasgow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford Focus art car in Glasgow

Though several automakers have celebrated their centenary recently, most haven't been around that long. Ford has, though, and not only that, it's been in the UK for 100 years, too. The Blue Oval has set to staging a series of celebrations to mark the occasion, culminating in the Ford Centenary Tour traversing the British Isles.

The celebratory road trip started in London last week and will end on September 18 at the Goodwood Revival, but on its way, it swung through Glasgow, Scotland, where Ford commissioned a group of artists to repaint the Focus in their own style.

The six graffiti artists affiliated with the Recoat Gallery installed themselves in downtown Glasgow and repainted the car in front of a gathering crowd. In case you missed it, you can check it out in our own gallery and read about the artists in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow

Ford takes art to the street with Focus in Glasgow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carfordford centenary tourford centennialford focusford focus art carford ukglasgowgraffitigraffiti artistThu, 25 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20025613/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/25/ford-takes-art-to-the-street-with-focus-in-glasgow/20025613/article-detail.xml 20025613 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/webfocus-artcar-glasgow_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/webfocus-artcar-glasgow.jpg <![CDATA[Alfa celebrates economical new MiTo with Louise Dear art car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/alfa-celebrates-economical-new-mito-with-louise-dear-art-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/alfa-celebrates-economical-new-mito-with-louise-dear-art-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/alfa-celebrates-economical-new-mito-with-louise-dear-art-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Alfa MiTo art car by Louise Dear

Make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen: the era of the Art Car has returned, and it's returned in a big way. Not only has BMW been showcasing its own extensive collection with a special online gallery, Force India has commissioned the first Formula One art car. Need more proof? Tesla had its roadster worked over, Citroën gave its Survolt concept a new paintjob and numerous other automakers have gotten in on the action just in recent months.

The latest, however, is an Alfa Romeo. The Italian automaker commissioned acclaimed artist Louise Dear to apply her talents to the MiTo to celebrate the launch of its new, more economical 1.3 JDTM-2 engine. The finished product, dubbed "Because I can" was apparently inspired by Dear's 17-year-old daughter, and it incorporates classic Alfa iconography like the company's logo and the Cloverleaf emblem that adorned the marque's racing cars of old. Check out the decidedly flowery result in the high-res image gallery above, along with more details of the partnership in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Alfa celebrates economical new MiTo with Louise Dear art car

Alfa celebrates economical new MiTo with Louise Dear art car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfaalfa mitoalfa romeoalfa romeo mitoart carart carslouise dearWed, 20 Jul 2011 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19993090/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/20/alfa-celebrates-economical-new-mito-with-louise-dear-art-car/19993090/article-detail.xml 19993090 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webmito-artcar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webmito-artcar.jpg <![CDATA[BMW opens Art Car collection to the public with virtual gallery [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/bmw-opens-art-car-collection-to-the-public-with-virtual-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/bmw-opens-art-car-collection-to-the-public-with-virtual-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/bmw-opens-art-car-collection-to-the-public-with-virtual-gallery/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BMW 3.0 CSL by Alexander Calder
BMW 3.0 CSL by Alexander Calder - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Nobody does Art Cars quite like BMW. Others try, from time to time, sure. But over the past 40 years, the Bavarian automaker has collaborated with world-renowned artists to create no fewer than 17 unique art cars, each a work of art in its own right.

One of the things we love the most about BMWs art cars is that, as creative as they are, they're not just for show. Many of them have been raced, and raced hard - from the first 3.0 CSL painted by Alexander Calder (pictured above) to the latest M3 GT2 by Jeff Koons.

Unfortunately, while the cars have gone on display in galleries and museums around the world, seeing all 17 in one place is a rarity. So to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the art car program, BMW has put the entire collection online. Each car gets its own exhibit and film highlighting its creation, all laid out in a virtual museum.

There's also a forty-minute video on the history of the program, a short synopsis of which we've got in the clip after the jump along with the full press release, along with a smattering of official images in the first gallery and our own photos in the second gallery from when four of the collection's finest came to LA. Click on to check it out, and follow the link to BMW's online art car exhibition.

Continue reading BMW opens Art Car collection to the public with virtual gallery [w/video]

BMW opens Art Car collection to the public with virtual gallery [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carbmwbmw art caronline galleryvideovirtual galleryvirtual tourMon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19987947/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/11/bmw-opens-art-car-collection-to-the-public-with-virtual-gallery/19987947/article-detail.xml 19987947 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webp90058925highres_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webp90058925highres.jpg <![CDATA[Force India does the art car thing with an F1 racer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/force-india-does-the-art-car-thing-with-an-f1-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/force-india-does-the-art-car-thing-with-an-f1-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/force-india-does-the-art-car-thing-with-an-f1-racer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Force India VJM01-05 art car by Dexter Brown
Force India VJM01-05 art car by Dexter Brown - Click above for high-res image gallery

Far and away, BMW has commissioned more Art Cars than any other manufacturer. But the German automaker doesn't have exclusive purview over the realm, and this one is quite different.

This is the first art car based on an F1 racer. The Force India team commissioned renowned automotive artist Dexter Brown to apply his wares to the VJM01-05 which Giancarlo Fisichella drove - rather unspectacularly, mind you, without a single championship point finish - in 2008, the year before he scored that remarkable second place at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix and subsequently signed with Ferrari.

The result is quite innovative, and will be auctioned for charity, complete with the signatures of various F1 drivers and personalities, Bernie Ecclestone first among them. The project will also be commemorated with a special book to be published by Opus - the same publishing house behind the $275,000 Ferrari book. Check out the car in the high-res image gallery and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Force India does the art car thing with an F1 racer

Force India does the art car thing with an F1 racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art cardexter brownf1force indiaformula 1formula oneopusTue, 05 Jul 2011 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19983333/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/05/force-india-does-the-art-car-thing-with-an-f1-racer/19983333/article-detail.xml 19983333 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webdne1104jy14_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/webdne1104jy14.jpg <![CDATA[BMW M1 art car by Frank Stella headed for the auction block]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/bmw-m1-art-car-by-frank-stella-headed-for-the-auction-block/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/bmw-m1-art-car-by-frank-stella-headed-for-the-auction-block/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/bmw-m1-art-car-by-frank-stella-headed-for-the-auction-block/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BMW M1 art car by Frank Stella
BMW M1 art car by Frank Stella - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a perfect world, maybe the world's top museums would have infinite space and infinite resources to acquire and display every significant piece of artistic creation they could get their hands on. But, as we are all at times painfully aware, this is an imperfect world. Which is why the Guggenheim Museum is forced to sell this unique BMW M1 art car, in order to raise funds and make way for other works of art. And their loss could be your gain.

The original Bavarian supercar was painted by the celebrated artist Frank Stella in 1979. But while BMW has commissioned many art cars (including another M1 by Andy Warhol and a 3.0 CSL also by Stella) since the program kicked off in 1975, this is the only one that was officially sanctioned by the factory for a private client, whereas all the others remained in the German automaker's private collection. This, then, represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire an original BMW art car.

The vehicle has been part of the museum's collection since 1999, and will be auctioned by Bonhams this coming August at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, where it's expected to fetch around half a million dollars, an estimate we can see it blowing right past. Us? We're just hoping that BMW itself decides to bid on the car so that this Stella M1 can rejoin its celebrated relatives in the German automaker's collection.

If you're in New York and want to catch a glimpse at this one-of-a-kind rolling work of art, it's currently on display outside Bonhams' offices in the atrium of the IBM Building at 56th and Madison.

Follow the jump for the official press release and scope out the images in the gallery below.

Continue reading BMW M1 art car by Frank Stella headed for the auction block

BMW M1 art car by Frank Stella headed for the auction block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laurence Gartel Ferrari 430 Scuderia
Laurence Gartel Ferrari 430 Scuderia - Click above to watch video after the jump

Laurence Gartel has been involved with digital media since the early '70s, beginning his artistic exploration of computers on analog machines long before anyone else. This guy has been at it so long he taught Andy Warhol how to create digital media.

For the last few years, Gartel has been looking at supercars as a vehicle, so to speak, for his works. Gartel holds nothing sacred when it comes to Ferraris (or Tesla Roadsters, etc...), arguing that art can make just about anything more meaningful.

His latest creation follows that ethos to a T. It's a Ferrari 430 Scuderia that Gartel 'enhanced' with a pyschedelic vinyl he designed on a computer. Gartel's people claim Gartel's work pushes the value of the Scud near $1 million. Your definition of value may vary... In any case, check out the video, along with the press release, after the break.

[Source: Art Fellas]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari F430 Scuderia turned into rolling canvas by artist Laurence Gartel

Video: Ferrari F430 Scuderia turned into rolling canvas by artist Laurence Gartel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>430 scuderiaartart carferrariferrari 430 scuderiaferrari art cargartellaurence gartelscuderiaWed, 09 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19873871/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/09/video-ferrari-f430-scuderia-turned-into-rolling-canvas-by-artis/19873871/article-detail.xml 19873871 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/ferrari-scuderia_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/ferrari-scuderia.jpg <![CDATA[Rinspeed BamBoo concept pops its top with artist Jamez Rizzi]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/rinspeed-bamboo-concept-pops-its-top-with-artist-jamez-rizzi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/rinspeed-bamboo-concept-pops-its-top-with-artist-jamez-rizzi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/rinspeed-bamboo-concept-pops-its-top-with-artist-jamez-rizzi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's a lot of adjectives you could ascribe to Rinspeed's wild creations. After all, each one is as different from the one that came before as it is from any other car on the road or the show stand. So if we had to pick one, it would be "unique." And the latest Geneva-bound BamBoo concept car is no exception.

Initially released about a month back, the BamBoo is an off-beat concept for an easy-going car-about-town designed for vacation homes and resort destinations. A grown-up golf cart is what the quirky Swiss designer itself calls the vehicle. But in case it wasn't unique enough, Rinspeed has now taken measures to make it even more so.

Teaming up with pop artist James Rizzi, the BamBoo has been turned into the kind of rolling canvas we know as an Art Car. But despite the image above, as well as the usual formula that calls for an all-enveloping design, by the time the veil lifts at the Geneva Palexpo in March, Rizzi will have applied his - there's that word again - unique talents only to the vehicle's inflatable roof surface. There will also be a little bird on the B pillar that, like a mood ring, is supposed to convey the occupants' disposition to the world passing them by. Follow the jump for the full press release.


Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo


[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Rinspeed BamBoo concept pops its top with artist Jamez Rizzi

Rinspeed BamBoo concept pops its top with artist Jamez Rizzi originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 geneva motor showart carbamboogenevageneva 2011geneva motor showjames rizzirinspeedrinspeed bambooTue, 04 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19784124/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/04/rinspeed-bamboo-concept-pops-its-top-with-artist-jamez-rizzi/19784124/article-detail.xml 19784124 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/web630-dwnbamboo5_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/web630-dwnbamboo5.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat 500 art cars created in Miami at Exhibitalia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/18/fiat-500-art-cars-created-in-miami-at-exhibitalia/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/18/fiat-500-art-cars-created-in-miami-at-exhibitalia/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/18/fiat-500-art-cars-created-in-miami-at-exhibitalia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat Exhibitalia art car
Fiat 500 Art Basel art cars - click above for high-res image gallery

We wouldn't have taken something like the Art Basel festival in Miami Beach as a typical showcase for automobiles, but after Tesla rolled out its art car and Maybach spearheaded its sculpture initiative there, Fiat became the third automaker to strut its stuff at the festival among the 2,000 artists from around the world.

Fiat's display took place at the four-day Exhibitalia event, where several renowned artists and two student teams from the University of Miami used its tiny 500 as their "inspiration and canvas" in the creation of their works. Some created pieces inspired by the Cinquecento, some used body panels, and one even used the entire vehicle, transforming it into an art car on par with anything BMW could throw at it. Check it out in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.


Gallery: Fiat 500 art cars at Exhibitalia


[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Fiat 500 art cars created in Miami at Exhibitalia

Fiat 500 art cars created in Miami at Exhibitalia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laurence Gartel Tesla art car
Laurence Gartel's Tesla Roadster art car - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love ourselves some art cars. Be it a Warhol-liveried BMW M1 or a crochet-covered Morris Minor, few things flip our collective switch quite like the melding of art and automobiles. Tesla has introduced its first foray into the scene with a Roadster worked up by Laurence Gartel. The artist covered each and every one of the electric sports car's body panels in a vinyl wrap with a trippy digital swirl design. Gartel has a history of working in digital art having begun experimenting in the medium in the '70s, and Tesla is a company that identifies with individuals with a technology bent.

Tesla showed its Art Roadster at the Miami Art Basel Festival over the weekend, and the company spent some time motoring around the southern-Florida city during the event. Hit the jump for the full press release.


Gallery: Laurence Gartel Telsa Art Car



[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carbasellaurence gartelMiami Art Baselroadsterteslatesla roadsterMon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19748097/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/06/tesla-takes-a-tip-from-bmw-creates-psychedelic-roadster-art-car/19748097/article-detail.xml 19748097 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-gartel-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-gartel-630.jpg <![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Crocheted 1959 Morris Minor [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-crocheted-1959-morris-minor-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-crocheted-1959-morris-minor-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-crocheted-1959-morris-minor-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Olek Morris Minor
Olek's crocheted Morris Minor - Click above to watch video after the jump

We can only hope that the art world has as much trouble understanding us we have trying to fathom its hows and whys. Brooklyn-based, Polish-born artist Olek just closed her installation, "Knitting is for Pus****" in which she swaddled a host of everyday objects in vividly colored crocheted garb. Everything from bicycles to televisions and living, breathing people got the yarn treatment, including a plaster remake of a 1959 Morris Minor. Near as we can tell, the vehicle isn't in any sort of operational state, so don't start thinking you can strip the threads and have yourself a decent project vehicle.

As of writing, the current bid is at $1,525 with the reserve not met and a little over nine hours left on the auction. If you're thinking this is your next must-have piece of modern art, head to the interwebs and get your bid going. If nothing else, it'd be a great way to get into a Morris Minor-shaped blanket. Hit the jump for a look at the installation's opening.


Gallery: Olek's crocheted Morris Minor


[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Crocheted 1959 Morris Minor [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: Crocheted 1959 Morris Minor [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art carart carscrochetknitknittingmorris minorOlekFri, 22 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19682393/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/22/ebay-find-of-the-day-crocheted-1959-morris-minor-w-video/19682393/article-detail.xml 19682393 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/olek-minor_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/olek-minor.jpg -1 2