Since 1975, prominent artists from throughout the world have designed BMW automobiles of their times, all making extremely different artistic statements. The fifteen exhibits created for the Art Car Collection until now include works by well-known artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, A.R. Penck, David Hockney, and Jenny Holzer. The Art Cars reflect the cultural and historical development of art, design, and technology.
    It was originally the French racing driver Hervé Poulain who had the idea of letting an artist have his or her way with an automobile. Poulain commissioned American artist Alexander Calder to paint his BMW racing car in the early 70's; this was the spark which led BMW to establish the Art Car Collection.
    In the first years of the project, primarily racing cars were transformed into art objects-some of these even started in the famous 24-hour Le Mans race. Later, the Art Car Collection was extended to include series vehicles. The latest work of this series has been created by American conceptual artist Jenny Holzer, who "described" a BMW V12 Le Mans racing car with her word-art, calling her artwork "Truisms".

Car design unites the emotional with the rational, experience with knowledge, the fascination for technology with aesthetics, tradition with innovation, creativity with perfection. Navigating among these opposites is the driving force behind the design process.