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Williams were delighted to debut the all-new fully electric luxury BMW i7 alongside a limited-edition Jeff Koons masterpiece at Manchester Art Fair.
Williams chose the UK’s most ambitious art fair as the perfect platform to unveil the brand-new BMW i7, making the Fair one of the first locations to host the luxury sedan before it’s launch in late November. Manchester Art Fair had a record number of visitors, who were impressed with the dazzling design of the BMW i7 as well as its innovative technology.
Securing the early reveal of the i7 together with “The 8 x Jeff Koons”, a BMW M850i Gran Coupé that has been transformed by the world-renowned artist to offer the ultimate blend of pop art and performance, ensured that the Williams presence at the art fair was a celebration of contemporary design and engineering. “The 8 x Jeff Koons” car greeted visitors upon entry to the Art Fair, and proved to be very popular, gathering crowds who wanted to know more about the story, as well as take pictures.
Industry leading design of the i7 displays ‘Forwardism’ in the electric car market. Swarovski crystals as headlights, a 31.3-inch drop down BMW theatre screen creating a private cinema in the rear seats, and a luxurious lounge atmosphere for the driver and passengers, the unveiling of the vehicle within Manchester Art Fair highlighted the creativity and skills of its engineers and designers.
Alongside the premiere of the i7, Williams were able to present world-renowned artist Jeff Koon’s pop art limited edition BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé to be the centrepiece of the entrance hall at Manchester Art Fair. “The 8 X Jeff Koons, is the ultimate blend of pop art and performance and welcomed visitors to the Fair – taking pride of place as people arrived at the prestigious three-day event. With only 99 models scheduled for production globally, the collaboration vehicle was transported from its appearance at Frieze London in Regents Park for its first Northern viewing.
With over 200 hours spent on the exterior paint for each model, the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé has literally been used as a blank canvas. Inspired by the world of pop art and showcasing strong connections with former BMW Art Car creator Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons has successfully paired his bold visual style with the powerful BMW design elements. The craftsmanship and purpose can be seen and felt in every detail, from the artist’s lasered signature to the luxurious seats.
Guy Adams, managing director at Williams, said, “John Henry Williams founded the business in 1909 as a wheel manufacturer on Deansgate - just around the corner from Manchester Central where the Art Fair is curated. From starting out making wheels over one hundred years ago, to now unveiling the futuristic all-electric BMW i7 so close to our roots, is a privilege. Having represented BMW in the region for the past 50 years, and as the longest serving BMW retailer in the North West, we selected this highly anticipated event to unveil two of our very special vehicles, creating another manifestation of our purpose and ethos - ‘the difference is Williams.”
Thom Hetherington, CEO of Manchester Art Fair, adds “Since 2008 we have welcomed art lovers to the heart of Manchester for the annual Manchester Art Fair. This is our most ambitious year yet, so to have the Williams team choosing to debut the BMW i7 with us was fantastic, and the Jeff Koons 8 Series is spectacular".
Click below to find out more about the BMW i7.
