Color me Flow-ing!

A unique version of the 5 Series Sedan, the i5 Flow NOSTOKANA utilizes an evolution of the E Ink technology that lends itself to a color-changing body, an eye catcher to say the least! Spectacular at first glance, this i5 boasts a whopping 1,349 section of laser-cut film, each which can be individually controlled. The result? More colors to choose from than ever before! See what this i5 Flow has to offer!

Here’s more…

What we see!

With colors and patterns chosen to mimic the 12th BMW Art Car, a 525i E34 penned by South African artist Esther Mahlangu back in 1991 is truly one of a kind. It is presented with electronically animated pieces of film which have been applied onto the roof, hood, trunk lid and along the sides. Wheels are also able to change their color as well, with six more sections of film compared to the Dee.

This bonding of art and innovation, a true art piece through and through, will be presented at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair.

How it works!

Similar to technology found in e-book readers, the E Ink film encompasses several million microcapsules. By applying an electric voltage, structure and arrangement of the color particles change, resulting in the desired look by a simple push of a button.

With sturdier film than ever used before, BMW sees an ease of use in potential future series’ production. And while this is still concept-only, a production car with E Ink technology may be the wave of the future.

“The BMW iFlow NOSTOKANA (named for Esther Mahlangu’s first son) honors the history of the BMW brand and continues the story of our global cultural engagement in a unique way,” Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, explained. “It combines art and design through progressive technology. Here, technology itself becomes art.”

Its beginnings!

It was in 1991 that Malangu designed what was dubbed the 12th BMW Art Car. This move designated her as the first woman and first African artist to do so. Her art served as an inspiration moving forward, according to Stella Clarke, Research Engineer Open Innovations at the BMW Group. “Her art inspired me years ago, back when the concept of color change on a car was just an idea in my head. Now, being able to realize this idea, and work with Esther Mahlangu is absolutely surreal.”

Due to the versatility of the electrophoretic color changes, this fully-electric sedan has become a visual treat to say the least!

“It is fascinating to me to see how modern technology can expand my art and make it accessible to a completely new audience,” Ms. Mahlangu noted.

It is not art alone, though, that is found within this design. The animations are also accompanied by an equally extraordinary sound, composed by Renzo Vitale, the BMW Group’s Creative Director, Sound, for the iFlow. In combining the colors and sound, Vitale used sequences from Mahlangu’s own voice, as well as the sound of the soft feather brushes she used for painting. These were then combined with sounds produced by the color pencils employed in the BMW design studio and the acoustic signal heard as feedback when operating the i5’s touch display. The sound begins softly then becomes more intense as the animation progresses.

This concept of color-changing technology is one that is developing quickly. From the E Ink’s presentation in 2022 of a BMW iFlow that had the ability to switch from white to black at the push of a button to, one year later, the first multi-colored implementation — things are surely gaining momentum!