BMW has brought all 20 of its official Art Cars together under one roof at BMW Welt for what the automaker describes as a rare exhibition. The collection, spanning from Alexander Calder’s 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL to Julie Mehretu’s 2024 BMW M Hybrid V8, is on display through the end of August following what was described as a monumental logistical effort.
All 20 BMW Art Cars on Display at BMW Welt
The exhibition marks the first time every official BMW Art Car has been assembled in one location. Visitors have until the end of August to experience the complete collection at BMW Welt.
Admission to the exhibition is free. For €12, visitors can also join a 30-minute guided tour designed for groups of up to 15 people. BMW notes that available reservations through the BMW Welt Ticket Shop are filling up quickly.
Artlas App Offers a Digital Alternative
Those unable to visit the exhibition in person can explore the collection through the Artlas smartphone app, which was developed specifically for the event.
Available in 25 languages, the app includes brief presentations as well as more detailed background information for enthusiasts. It also features an artificial intelligence assistant that can answer visitors’ questions.
Attention Turns to the Next BMW Art Car
With all 20 official Art Cars now showcased together, attention naturally shifts to what could become the 21st entry in the collection. Looking back, motorsport has been a recurring theme, with nearly all official Art Cars based on racing vehicles.
One possibility would be a next-generation M3-based Art Car. The first fully electric M model, previewed by the M Concept Neue Klasse and identified as the M3 ZA0, is scheduled to launch next year. A six-cylinder version, codenamed G84, is expected to follow at some point in 2028.
At the same time, the next BMW Art Car is not required to be based on the M3. The article notes that selecting the ZA0 could generate significant attention and debate. Some would view it as a natural progression because the most recent Art Car project was already partially electrified, while others would continue to favor a gasoline-powered model. The inline-six and V8 engines are expected to continue after the M division updated both to meet Euro regulations.
Not every BMW Art Car has carried M badging, leaving the door open for other models to receive the Art Car treatment. For now, BMW has not revealed which vehicle will become the next addition to the series.
Complete BMW Art Cars Collection
- Alexander Calder — BMW 3.0 CSL — 1975
- Frank Stella — BMW 3.0 CSL — 1976
- Roy Lichtenstein — BMW 320i Turbo — 1977
- Andy Warhol — BMW M1 — 1979
- Ernst Fuchs — BMW 635 CSi — 1982
- Robert Rauschenberg — BMW 635 CSi — 1986
- Michael Nelson Jagamara — BMW M3 Group A — 1989
- Ken Done — BMW M3 Group A — 1989
- Matazo Kayama — BMW 535i — 1990
- César Manrique — BMW 730i — 1990
- AR Penck — BMW Z1 — 1991
- Esther Mahlangu — BMW 525i — 1991
- Sandro Chia — BMW M3 GTR — 1992
- David Hockney — BMW 850 CSi — 1995
- Jenny Holzer — BMW V12 LMR — 1999
- Olafur Eliasson — BMW H2R — 2007
- Jeff Koons — BMW M3 GT2 — 2010
- John Baldessari — BMW M6 GTLM — 2016
- Cao Fei — BMW M6 GT3 — 2017
- Julie Mehretu — BMW M Hybrid V8 — 2024
The BMW Welt exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to view every official BMW Art Car together, while the complete collection also highlights the ongoing anticipation surrounding the identity of the series’ next artistic collaboration.
