The BMW i8 Futurism Edition is an avant-garde sports car wrapped in an oil painting

By Andrew Hard Published November 16, 2017

BMW’s plug-in hybrid i8 is a stunning look into the future of motoring, one that combines beautiful modern styling and high-tech building materials with a wildly complex and efficient powertrain. Performance and image aside, though, the whole package can feel a bit clinical. The raucous exhaust note is artificial, for instance, and the car features more electronic wizardry than a SpaceX rocket. To give the car some warmth, Italian design house Garage Italia Customs went back in time, not forward.

The Milan-based firm has christened a one-off version of the i8 called the Futurism Edition, which is decorated with a vibrant vinyl wrap inspired by Giacomo Balla’s 1909 painting Street Light. Just like Balla’s original oil artwork, the car features sharp strokes of yellow, red, and purple over its carbon fiber body, brilliantly showcasing European artistry from past and present. Officially, the Futurism Edition is a celebration of BMW’s 50th anniversary in Italy, but for the people behind the project, it’s much more than that.

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BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

BMW i8 Futurism Edition — Garage Italia Customs

“The BMW i8 Futurism Edition is a practice of style,” said Lapo Elkann, president of Garage Italia Customs. “It gave the Garage Italia Customs Maestros a chance to celebrate a car which is projected towards the future of mobility. At the same time, it honors Italian art with Giacomo Balla, who is a prominent figure of the Futurism movement.”

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Street Light is typically displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, but if you’re on the other side of the pond, you’re in luck — this special i8 is set to star in the 2016 Mille Miglia race on May 19. To drive the past and future dynamic home, the vehicle will run directly behind an iconic BMW 328 driven by BMW Italia CEO Sergio Solero.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
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The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
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Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.