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BMW M Hybrid V8: The 20th Art Car by Julie Mehretu

Continuing the rich tradition of BMW Art Cars, the BMW M Hybrid V8 marks the 20th edition in this iconic series. Just weeks after its global premiere in Paris, this extraordinary race car will take on the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"The entire BMW Art Car project is about innovation, imagination, and pushing boundaries. This car isn’t just an exhibition piece; it’s a performance on wheels. My BMW Art Car was created in close collaboration with motorsport and engineering teams, and its story is only complete once the race is over."

The BMW M Hybrid V8 boasts a cutting-edge hybrid electric drivetrain, delivering approximately 640 hp through a 4.0-liter V8 engine paired with an electric motor. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 345 km/h (215 mph), the prototype stands as a testament to BMW M’s signature performance and commitment to electrification. Measuring 4,991 mm in length, 1,994 mm in width, and 1,200 mm in height, with a weight of just 1,030 kg, the car exemplifies the fusion of speed, technology, and design.

This year, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete in the Hypercars category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, taking on formidable rivals. Notably, it marks BMW M Motorsport’s return to Le Mans with a prototype entry since the BMW V12 LMR’s historic victory in 1999.

"The chance to race a BMW Art Car at Le Mans is an incredible motivation for the entire M Motorsport team. We are committed to preparing the BMW M Hybrid V8 to perform at its absolute best on this prestigious stage." — Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH

Julie Mehretu, known for her exploration of space, movement, and energy, has transformed the 20th BMW Art Car into a three-dimensional expression of her artistic vision. Drawing inspiration from her monumental painting Everywhen (2021–2023), she utilized digital layering techniques, integrating abstract visuals composed of altered photographs, dot grids, neon veils, and her signature black markings.

"In my studio, with the model of the BMW M Hybrid V8 in front of me, I asked myself: What if this car passed through my painting and became infused with its essence? I imagined a remix, a fusion—where the artwork seemed to dissolve into the car itself, even affecting its iconic kidney grilles." — Julie Mehretu

Through advanced 3D mapping, the painting’s elements were seamlessly transferred onto the contours of the vehicle, creating a dynamic interplay between art and engineering. The intricate foiling ensures that this fully realized Art Car is not just a masterpiece but a high-performance competitor at Le Mans.

Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1970, Julie Mehretu moved to the U.S. at the age of seven and is now based in New York City and Berlin. Her work spans painting, drawing, and printmaking, exploring themes of social behavior, contemporary experience, and historical palimpsests. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, studied at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, and received her Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1997.

Her accolades include the MacArthur Award (2005), the Berlin Prize: Guna S. Mundheim Fellowship (2007), and the U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts Award (2015). Her mid-career retrospective toured major institutions such as LACMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Walker Art Center between 2019 and 2023. In 2024, her most extensive European solo exhibition, Ensemble, premiered at Palazzo Grassi in Venice.

A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Design, Mehretu is represented globally by Marian Goodman Gallery and also exhibits with White Cube, London, and Carlier Gebauer, Berlin.