BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA: A Canvas of Innovation
What if your car could change its color to match your mood or the weather? The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA makes this idea a reality. This singular vehicle, a collaboration between BMW and South African Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu, showcases BMW’s innovative color-changing exterior technology.
This unique piece is equipped with electrically animated E Ink film segments. It pays homage to the rich history of BMW Art Cars and its engagement with global culture. The design was unveiled at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair, a tribute to the legacy of BMW and its global cultural engagement.
In 1991, Esther Mahlangu designed the 12th BMW Art Car – a BMW 525i. She was the first woman and the first African artist to receive this honor.
“Her art inspired me years ago, when dynamic color changes on the body of a BMW were nothing more than an initial idea,” says Stella Clarke, Research Engineer in Open Innovations at the BMW Group. The interior of Mahlangu’s Art Car was even featured in Clarke’s pitch deck when the idea was initially presented. “Realizing this idea now, working with her, and seeing a thought in her head become a reality is absolutely incredible,” Clarke adds.
Mahlangu is known for her Ndebele paintings, which traditionally depict significant events or celebrations within her culture. The distinctive colors and geometric patterns of this art form are perfectly suited to highlight the i5’s innovative flow technology.
“True innovation is capable of triggering delight. And I hope that the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA will awaken this feeling of joy and enchantment in many onlookers,” says Clarke.
Color Change at Your Command
BMW showcased its initial color-changing technology using E Ink in 2022 with the BMW iX Flow. The car could switch its exterior from black to white and back at the touch of a button.
The technology behind the color change—electrophoresis—is based on technology developed by the E Ink Corporation. The surface coating of the BMW iX Flow includes millions of microcapsules, each about the width of a human hair. Inside each microcapsule are negatively charged white and positively charged black pigments. When an electrical impulse is applied, the pigments migrate to the surface, resulting in the chosen color.
This technology also has practical uses. For example, a lighter-colored exterior reflects more sunlight, thus reducing heat absorption. In contrast, a darker exterior absorbs more heat in cooler conditions. In both situations, these color adjustments relieve the vehicle’s climate control system.
Expanding the Palette
In 2023, a multicolored implementation followed. The BMW i Vision Dee displayed up to 32 colors on 240 individually controllable E Ink film segments.
The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA introduces even more colors and patterns with its animated film segments extending over the sides, roof, hood, trunk, and rims. This model features 1,349 film segments. Each segment can be individually controlled to replicate the striking details of Mahlangu’s art. The colors and patterns characteristic of her artwork are presented in dynamic new compositions.
The addition of “NOSTOKANA” to the Art Car’s name is significant. It’s the name of Esther Mahlangu’s first son and, in Ndebele culture, her indigenous name, as mothers take their firstborn son’s name.
A Fusion of Technology and Art
Stella Clarke emphasizes how technology functions as art in the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA. “Technology is key. You can develop something magical with it. For me, magic always goes hand in hand with a touch of disbelief or astonishment. You question how the trick works.”
Curiosity played a major role for Clarke during the project: “Art explores boundaries. Art pushes boundaries. Art ignores technical limitations and sparks inspiration, enthusiasm, reflection, and joy. Triggering such feelings with technology can be challenging – that’s why the fusion with art and this way of thinking can help us break new ground here too.”
While the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA is currently a one-off, the ongoing development to enhance the durability of the film segments could pave the way for potential series production, allowing drivers to change the color of their BMWs to match their moods. For the time being, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA will remain a unique concept car, showcasing the merging of art and cutting-edge technology.
