| Of course everybody knows that BMW designs | | | | Aspegren put it more directly, writing in an email, |
| the best cars, from the svelte look of the BMW 1 | | | | "The vehicle-viewing area in the forward lounge |
| Series, down to the top of the line BMW 2500 | | | | would guarantee bragging rights for the owner |
| parts. | | | | among friends and business associates during |
| But could BMW design a Boeing 787 jet's | | | | flight." |
| interiors? | | | | The custom 787 also features a "technologically |
| The answer is yes. | | | | advanced office;" a gourmet kitchen; an exercise |
| Last fall, Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) approached | | | | room; a spa and sauna; and a cinema lounge with |
| BMW Group DesignworksUSA, a unit of the | | | | waterfall floors and a screen that spans two floor |
| German car giant, and asked it to reportedly | | | | levels. |
| create "a conceptual 787 aircraft interior for a | | | | What's more, to increase the sense of space, |
| fictitious, affluent, Russian client in his mid-thirties." | | | | many of the plane's interior walls are |
| Of course DesignworksUSA rose to the challenge, | | | | semitranslucent. |
| coming up with an interior design that immediately | | | | In illustrations provided by DesignworksUSA, even |
| reminds one of James Bond. | | | | that master-bedroom suite has one translucent |
| "We studied the young, Russian billionaire clientele | | | | wall. But the suite is tucked away upstairs to the |
| that would be the potential buying group of this | | | | rear of the aircraft and is no doubt off-limits |
| aircraft," explained the firm's marketing manager, | | | | without an invitation. |
| Jackie Jones, in an e-mail. "By immersing ourselves | | | | For now, however, this dream of an airplane is |
| in information regarding their lives, we were able | | | | just that - purely conceptual. |
| to develop scenarios describing 'a day in the life | | | | "In case a client approaches BBJ or BMW Group |
| of'... " | | | | DesignworksUSA and expresses interest in the |
| DesignworksUSA captured its design for the | | | | interior, we would use this as a baseline," Jones |
| fictitious Russian billionaire's Dreamliner in computer | | | | wrote. |
| graphics, along with matching glowing marketing | | | | Boeing spokeswoman Sandy Angers said the |
| description that included: | | | | typical configuration of a 787 VIP jet will allow |
| - "An aircraft that can function as a second home | | | | seating for up to 75 people. With that passenger |
| with luxurious amenities." | | | | load, the range of the 787-9 VIP airplane will be |
| - "Guests on the jet may 'enjoy a cocktail at the | | | | 11,450 miles, enabling nonstop flight to virtually |
| bar while admiring the stowed vehicles seen below | | | | anywhere in the world. |
| through the transparent floor.' Yes, that's a BMW | | | | And the best thing? When The Billionaire gets to |
| down there". | | | | his desired destination, he won't need a hired limo. |
| - "The parking space in the cargo deck allows 'a | | | | The plane lands, the crew unloads Billionaire's BMW |
| seamless air-to-ground experience' and "the | | | | from his parking space inside the |
| complete freedom to go from anywhere to | | | | plane…and in no time, off Billionaire goes to |
| anywhere." | | | | spend more of his money. |
| DesignworksUSA creative director Magnus | | | | |