BMW Reveals “Digital” 18th Art Car Set for Macau GT Race

Photo: BMW

BMW has revealed its 18th Art Car, the first-ever “digital” design, which will compete in the planned FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

Designed by Chinese artist Cao Fei, the BMW M6 GT3 employs “augmented and virtual reality” and addresses the “the future of mobility such as autonomous driving and digitalization.” 

It will be raced in a full carbon black livery, as its design can only be seen in the virtual world. 

The world premiere of the car came Wednesday at the Minsheng Art Museum in Beijing, in front of hundreds of invited guests, including Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

“Cao Fei’s BMW Art Car is a reflection on the speed of change in China, on its tradition and its future,” a statement from BMW read.

“Her art car project consists of three components: a video of a time traveling spiritual practitioner, augmented reality features picturing colorful streams of light, accessible via a dedicated app, and the BMW M6 GT3 race car in its original carbon black.

“Paying tribute to the carbon fiber structure of the race car chassis, her use of a non-reflective black incorporates the car into the possibilities of the digital world.

“In her video, the practitioner executes spiritual movements, which become immersive colorful streams of light. When the app is used within the premises of the car, these swishes become an AR installation floating above and around the M6 GT3.”

BMW factory driver Augusto Farfus will race the car in the streets of Macau on Nov. 17-19.

“The 18th BMW Art Car is perfectly suited to this era,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “Cao Fei took the logical step of creating the first ever digital Art Car.

“The augmented reality experience makes this BMW M6 GT3 unique. For everyone involved at BMW Motorsport it was both exciting and fascinating to work with Cao Fei and her team on this project.”

The event, which is planned to be the third edition of the FIA GT World Cup, has not yet been finalized by the FIA and promoter SRO Motorsports Group, although Stephane Ratel told Sportscar365 that he intends the event to go ahead as planned.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John