BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car Debuts at Le Mans

The 20th BMW Art Car made its world premiere at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. New York artist Julie Mehretu designed the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car will race on June 15th and 16th.

BMW’s Chairman, Oliver Zipse, and artist Julie Mehretu attended the event. Zipse highlighted BMW Art Cars’ cultural significance over the past 50 years. Mehretu described her design approach as a “performative painting” for Le Mans, created in close collaboration with motorsport and engineering teams.

Mehretu’s design transforms a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional art piece. The car’s visuals are based on her painting “Everywhen,” featuring digitally altered photos, dot grids, and neon veils. The result is a dynamic, abstract design that integrates seamlessly with the car’s contours.

The BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and René Rast, will showcase Mehretu’s work at Le Mans. Before the race, the car will appear at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este in Lake Como. This exhibition includes iconic BMW Art Cars by artists like Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol, highlighting the rich history of BMW’s rolling art pieces.