The Future is Now: BMW i5 Transforms Art and Technology with Its Revolutionary Color-Changing Skin
In an audacious leap forward for automotive design and technological innovation, the 2024 BMW i5 Flow Nostokana has set a new standard. This isn’t just any car; it’s a moving canvas that brings the visionary artwork of Esther Mahlangu to life in a way the automotive world has never seen. The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana is not just a vehicle; it's an art car that shifts colors on demand, thanks to the groundbreaking application of E Ink technology.
Inspiration Behind the Innovation
The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana draws its creative inspiration from the 1991 BMW 525i Art Car designed by Esther Mahlangu. She made history as the first woman and the first African artist to add her unique touch to the series. Now, her legacy intertwines with the latest in technology on the i5’s surface.
Through a collaboration between Mahlangu and BMW, the i5 art car embodies a dynamic shift in how vehicles express style and creativity. By outfitting the i5 with 1,349 pieces of E Ink film, each meticulously laser-cut and individually controlled, this car transcends traditional automotive aesthetics.
Unveiling the Technological Marvel
The i5 Flow Nostokana showcases BMW's exclusive capability to manage the sophisticated curved surfaces of a vehicle’s exterior. The car features animating strips across its body that consist of millions of microcapsules. These capsules can alter their color with a simple electric current, making the car's exterior a vivid, ever-changing artwork.
BMW continues to pioneer with E Ink, advancing from the initial solo black-and-white option to a palette now boasting the ability to craft intricate designs and patterns. Such innovation underlines BMW’s prowess in merging technology with art, proving the immense potential of E Ink not just as a novel feature but as a new medium for automotive design.
A One-Off Wonder
While the BMW i5 Flow Nostokana is a singular masterpiece, the robustness of its E Ink components hints at a future where this technology could enhance production vehicles. This vehicle also ventures into auditory artistry through a partnership with composer Renzo Vitale. A soundscape, developed with elements as personal as Mahlangu’s voice and as characteristic as BMW designers' pencils, complements the car’s visual splendor.
"The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA is a testament to BMW's legacy and its ongoing cultural engagement," stated Andrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. The i5 is more than a technological breakthrough; it is the blending of art and innovation where technology itself becomes a canvas for human creativity.