Recently, at the Saint Tropez’s Voiles de Saint-Tropez, one of the last major international regattas of the season, thousands of yachting enthusiasts got a sneak peek of the one-off BMW crafted from the powerful M760 Li. Sporting bright chrome work, “the Swan” sparkles in Damask Red, a metallic version of a well-aged Bordeaux.
The car is the result of the collaboration between BMW’s Individual bespoke division and Nautor’s Swan, one of the world’s most prestigious yacht makers. Its release marks the 25th anniversary of BMW Individual, which was spawned after fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld asked BMW to put a fax machine in his car, and requested an interior trim to match the lining of his briefcase. This marked the beginning of a long line of customized vehicles for hundreds of wealthy customers.
The M760Li’s silky V12 helps the vehicle sail away like a luxury yacht. In terms of performance, the model resembles the V8-powered Alpina B7 (also built from the newest BMW 7 Series), but there is something stately and unmistakably elegant about cruising with 610 hp and 12 cylinders under the hood.
The interior of the Swan boasts Criollo Brown merino leather, a colour BMW had sent from its U.S. factory in Spartanburg, S.C. (where it’s offered as an option on X5 and X6 SUVs). Attention to detail goes far beyond with even the B-pillars wrapped in leather. Braided leather piping is woven by hand at a rate of one meter per hour. The most noticeable nautical touch is the oak slatted floor mats from the same wood found inside Nautor’s Swan’s yachts. The swan logo is embroidered on the front headrests and plush leather pillows on the rear seats.
BMW customers can customize any model starting with the 3 Series and up. There are 25 different colours of leather, numerous fabrics, 120 paints (including a wide range of matte colours), and any other special requests. Trims can also be customized.
Source: The Billionaire Shop