We joined the KITH, BMW M, and BMW USA staff in Miami for Artwork Basel week, the place Ronnie Fieg’s KITH unveiled their newest collaboration with BMW. The occasion came about on the iconic 1111 Lincoln Highway parking construction, a shocking architectural landmark in Miami. The unique gathering, crammed with VIPs, showcased two particular autos: a one-off BMW M1 in Techno Violet and an XM Idea by KITH in Frozen Techno Violet. This collaboration, dubbed Chapter III, like those earlier than it, highlighted Fieg’s distinctive means to merge KITH’s branding with BMW’s new and previous designs.
Fieg Paid $1 Million For The BMW M1
For a lot of, the highlight shone brightest on the restored M1—a automobile with a storied previous and a rare transformation. Bought for $1 million, in response to Fieg, the unique pink exterior was meticulously scrapped off and substitute by the long-lasting Techno Violet hue, a coloration synonymous with BMW’s heritage from the Nineteen Nineties. As Fieg recounted, sourcing the M1 was no small feat—it was automobile number one, a uncommon gem in automotive historical past and it took BMW Basic fairly a while to search out it. With their assist, the automobile was restored to absolute perfection, making it a crown jewel in Fieg’s assortment of eighteen BMWs.
47 Models Restricted Run Has A That means
The XM Idea by KITH, equally fascinating, previewed an ultra-limited run of 47 manufacturing items. Whereas the idea automobile dazzled with carbon seats and putting violet/purple accent lights, the manufacturing XM by KITH editions promise the identical daring Frozen Techno Violet end with barely subdued particulars. Why the 47 restricted run? Subsequent 12 months, BMW M1 celebrates its forty seventh birthday.
Throughout a panel, Fieg spoke passionately about his connection to BMW, a love affair rooted in household and heritage. His grandfather owned a BMW, sparking Fieg’s fascination with the model from a younger age. This private connection fuels his drive to create collaborations which are genuine. His hunt for the right M1 was years within the making, however his ambitions lengthen far past this undertaking. As a lifelong BMW fanatic, Fieg views every collaboration as an opportunity to honor the model’s historical past whereas pushing its boundaries.
Tasks Like This Are Laborious to Convey to Life
The BMW XM by KITH confronted distinctive challenges, as defined by Tobias Weber, Head of Collaborations at BMW Group. Among the many most important hurdles was the introduction of the unique Frozen Techno Violet paint, a coloration by no means earlier than used on a BMW. Since this was the primary—and solely—time the corporate deliberate to use this end, rigorous testing was required to make sure its sturdiness and compliance with security requirements. For instance, reflections, an important consider automotive security, needed to meet stringent regulatory pointers earlier than the paint may very well be accredited.
Moreover, the XM’s customized exterior lighting offered one other layer of complexity. Any modification to lighting programs calls for meticulous testing to align with authorized and useful necessities, guaranteeing that security isn’t compromised. Past the technical challenges, the method of constructing one-off autos—or even a restricted collection—posed important manufacturing calls for. BMW’s precision-driven manufacturing course of needed to adapt to the bespoke nature of the XM by KITH, making the undertaking a bit extra intensive for everybody.
Artwork Basel Is Now Extra Than Simply Artwork
The Artwork Basel occasion offered a becoming backdrop for these exceptional autos, particularly because it’s turning into extra of a luxurious and automobile present. The seventh flooring of the 1111 Lincoln Highway parking construction supplied panoramic views of Miami, making a dramatic setting for the disclosing.
We had been on web site to seize the second, snapping photographs of those distinctive automobiles. From the intricate Kith monogram embossing on the XM’s inside to the flawless restoration of the M1, this collaboration is a testomony to how bridges will be constructed, bringing various communities collectively in a celebration of style and heritage.
As Fieg’s assortment of BMWs continues to develop, so too does his legacy as a curator of the model’s most iconic creations. For these fortunate sufficient to witness the disclosing, it was a second to recollect, and for Fieg, it marked one other milestone in his journey as certainly one of BMW’s most passionate ambassadors.
