“MY IDEA WAS TO DESIGN THE BMW IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF IT EFFORTLESSLY GLIDING WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE.”
CESAR MANRIQUE
César Manrique
Manrique is recognized as a universal talent: architect, sculptor, designer, object artist and painter in one. It took about forty years before his paintings were first shown in public. He made his breakthrough at the Venice Biennale in 1960. The paintings of the ardent ecologist and landscape designer mainly dealt with the theme of geology and volcanism.
In both bright and muted colors he made light and lava and their interplay visible. The artist, who was born in Lanzarote in 1919 and died in 1992 at the age of 72.
The perception of speed and aerodynamics
From Manrique’s point of view, cars, as an essential part of our daily lives, have an effect on our cityscape and thus contribute decisively to the way the world around us looks. When designing the BMW 730i, Manrique’s main goal was to unite the perception of speed and aerodynamics with the concept of aesthetics in a single object. Bright colours and
generous lines integrated into the contours of the car create the impression of effortless gliding and graceful movement.
Specifications BMW 730i
- inline six-cylinder engine
- overhead camshaft
- displacement: 2986 cm3
- power: 188 hp
- top speed: 222 km/h
History
This Art Car, designed by César Manrique, was intended solely as an exhibition object and has never been driven on the road or in a race.