SUCCESS STORIES
BMW Have Created the World’s First Vantablack Car
T
HE FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW
appearing two-dimensional (Fig. 2). This can
new BMW X6 to perfection. Asked whether
was the backdrop for the unveiling
be interpreted by the brain as staring into a
he was pleased with the final car, Ben Jensen
of the first and only vehicle in the
hole or even a void.bTherefore, coating the
commented: “I think it went beyond all our
world to feature a Vantablack VBx2 coating
BMW X6 has the effect of hiding some of the
expectations because of the size of the car,
in a collaboration between BMW, Surrey
trademark curves and accentuating other
its distinctive shape and how imposing it is”.
Nano Systems and Levitation 29. The
design features such as the optional Iconic
showcasing of the car, known as the BMW
Glow kidney grille, distinctive twin headlights
The BMW VBX6 marks the latest in a string of
VBX6, coincided with the world premiere of
and striking taillights.
high-profile collaborations between Surrey
the third-generation BMW X6 Sports Utility
The new BMW X6 is the first and only vehicle
NanoSystems, the inventors of Vantablack
Coupé (Fig. 1).
in the world to feature a Vantablack VBx2
coatings, and Levitation 29 the technical
®
Since they started working together in 2018,
world, absorbing more than 99% of visible
the Vantablack VBx2, which visually alters
Surrey NanoSystems and Levitation 29 have
light and almost completely removing all
the viewers perception of the car’s
produced a number of high-profile
reflections. In a playful and cutting-edge take
three-dimensional nature. Ben Jensen,
world firsts from a blackout house for
on the tradition of concealing key design
Vantablack inventor and founder of
Activision’s Call of Duty to a 40ft high
features by keeping cars under cloth or
Surrey Nano Systems said: “VBx2 with its
Vantablack monolith at Coachella music
covering them with decals, BMW celebrate
one-per-cent reflectance provides just
festival for the Techno DJ and Producer
the launch of the iconic X6 by showcasing a
enough of a hint of shape”. The spectacular
Gesaffelstein. The VBX6 collaboration with
Vantablack version. A surface coated with a
one-off vehicle highlights the expressive
BMW however held a special place with
Vantablack VBx2 coating loses its defining
and precise design language and confident,
fans of Vantablack. Benjamin Males from
features to the human eye, with objects
dominant and muscular appearance of the
Levitation 29 says: “We get contacted by a
© Surrey NanoSystems
and creative agency behind the project.
provides fascinating contrasts to offset
© Surrey NanoSystems
paint finish. The design of the BMW X6 Vantablack coatings are the blackest in the
1
2 1
Figure 1: BMW VBX6 is the new car by BMW coated with the Vantablack® VBx2 paint finish.
136
N. 59 - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
Figure 2: A surface coated with a Vantablack VBx2 coating loses its defining features to the human eye, with objects appearing two-dimensional.