The BMW M850i ‘Night Sky’ Has Actual Meteorites Embedded In It
A one-of-a-kind BMW that’s literally out of this world.
BMW’s customization arm BMW Individual is often overshadowed by flashier offerings from the likes of Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
But its latest bespoke creation is quite literally out of this world. Just released in conjunction with the Quadrantids, the first major meteor shower of 2019, the M850i Night Sky coupe actually has fragments of meteorites embedded in it.
The car’s exterior is made to resemble the progression of the sky at night, and the paint was applied by hand, with the bottom of the vehicle colored San Marino blue, eventually darkening to deep black.
Tinsel and bronze pigments were incorporated into the first layers of clear coat in homage to the pinpoints of light above the horizon.
Many of the car’s exterior elements such as the front spoilers, air intakes, mirror caps and brake discs were made in the the so-called Widmanstätten pattern of meteorites.
The brake calipers meanwhile represent the very first use of “bionic” design, a “geometry based on organic constructions found in nature”, manufactured using a metallic 3D printing process.
Inside, more than 21 ounces of meteorite material were incorporated into the center console’s trim plate, the start/stop button, the selector lever for the eight-speed Steptronic transmission and the Touch Controller for the iDrive system in a mosaic pattern.
Inlays made from meteorite material were also used in the door sill finishers, together with an illuminated model badge
The leather upholstery meanwhile is done using three different colors: Opal White with Midnight Blue and accents in Silver, and quilted seat inserts echoing the Widmanstätten pattern were also installed, while a perforated and backlit armrest echoes stars in the sky.
Based on the $112,000 M850i xDrive Coupe and powered by the same potent 530 HP twin-turbo V-8 as the factory model, the one-off Night Sky sled, probably commissioned by a deep-pocketed BMW collector, has no price tag on it, though we assume it will be (ahem) astronomical.
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