UK menswear retailer MR PORTER has teamed up with BMW i to produce a limited edition of the i3 electric vehicle. This is the first automotive partnership for the online men’s retailer as it focuses on expanding its men’s range.
MR PORTER has decided to give the i3 its very own spin as part of this collaboration. Inspired by men’s bespoke tailoring, the design teams from Mr Porter and BMW i utilized a capparis white accent running along the chassis of the car. The interior was designed in a dark oak wood in a range of tones and grains. Floor mats feature white stitching details and Dalbergia brown piping.
The BMW i3 also comes with a Mr Porter essentials travel kit, which includes a BMW leather holdall bag and a Leica C camera. In addition, the car will be stocked with exclusive items including a Lock & Co. bowler hat, Cutler and Gross sunglasses, a black-and-white London Undercover umbrella and a bespoke edition of Phaidon City Guide Books.
‘The BMW i3 clearly demonstrates how the concept of sustainability and cutting-edge style can be effortlessly merged,” said Stefan Ponikva, head of BMW i Brand Management, in a statement. “As we at BMW are not only dedicated to technological innovation and superior quality, but also strive to create first-class design concepts that go beyond the ordinary, we were immediately captured by the idea to collaborate with Mr Porter as one of the leading trend-setters in global luxury style.
“Mr Porter is a truly inspiring platform and we are thrilled to contribute to this premium retail experience with an exclusive BMW i3,” he said.
“We have kept all the high specification components one would expect from BMW and added a bespoke interior and exterior finish, which is very much in keeping with our aesthetic,” said Toby Bateman, managing director at Mr Porter. “We also hope to make the car available in other markets in the future. We have had a longstanding commercial relationship with BMW i since launch and have had a number of creative projects with them, very much as an integrated partnership. Designing a car with their team seemed the logical progression of this and I like that our creative team worked very closely with the teams at BMW to create a car that had our aesthetic values tempered with their technical excellence.”
The retail price is 39,000 pounds or $56,365. The BMW i3 cars will be available for purchase exclusively on mrporter.com on Feb. 18. The cars are deliverable within the U.K. only.
