This week, the BMW Art Car World Tour begins its highly anticipated U.S. chapter at the 74th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, marking a spectacular milestone—the 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car Collection. Since 1975, these unique “rolling canvases” have fused cutting-edge automotive engineering with groundbreaking contemporary art, creating a globally recognized collection that bridges culture, creativity, and competition.

Art, motorsport, and history converge in Monterey, California, as two of the collection’s most celebrated creations share the spotlight: BMW Art Car No. 20, the first-ever North American showing of New York-based Ethiopian artist Julie Mehretu’s M Hybrid V8 masterpiece, and BMW Art Car No. 4 by legendary pop art icon Andy Warhol, one of the most beloved and talked-about designs in the collection’s history.

A Global Tour with Historic Stops

The 2025 U.S. debut in Monterey launches the stateside portion of a worldwide celebration that has already captivated audiences in Vienna, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, Marrakech, and Milan. Following Pebble Beach, Mehretu’s Art Car will travel to Bridgehampton, NY, where she will personally present it at the exclusive The Bridge concours event on September 13, joined by BMW Group Head of Arts & Culture Dr. Thomas Girst for a special media and VIP showcase.

Meanwhile, Warhol’s iconic BMW M1 will head to Washington, D.C., to be officially inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Register of Historic Vehicles—a rare honor recognizing its cultural and historic significance. The car will be displayed on the National Mall during a week-long celebration before a formal induction ceremony at the Hirshhorn Museum on September 17.

From Le Mans to Legendary Status

The BMW Art Car program began in 1975 when French racing driver and art dealer Hervé Poulain invited friend and world-renowned artist Alexander Calder to transform a BMW 3.0 CSL. The project didn’t just produce a beautiful object—it created a racing competitor that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, captivating both the art world and motorsport fans.

In the decades since, the series has welcomed artistic legends including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Esther Mahlangu, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, and now Julie Mehretu. Each artist brings their own vision and complete creative freedom, resulting in cars that are as diverse in style as they are unified in prestige.

Warhol’s Dynamic M1 — Art in Motion

Warhol’s 1979 BMW M1 Group 4 was a radical shift from his earlier pop art work, embracing gestural abstraction to convey speed itself. Applying over thirteen pounds of paint in just 28 minutes, Warhol turned the painting process into a performance—leaving brushstrokes, drips, and fingerprints as living evidence of his artistic touch. In its racing debut, the car finished second in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, proving that art could be both beautiful and blisteringly fast.

Mehretu’s M Hybrid V8 — Space, Energy, and Motion

Julie Mehretu’s 2024 BMW M Hybrid V8 channels the layered dynamism of her monumental painting Everywhen into three-dimensional form. Using 3D mapping and lightweight foiling, Mehretu transformed the racing prototype into a vibrant, kinetic sculpture of neon veils, grid patterns, and her signature black markings. This Art Car competed at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, carrying her vision of movement and transformation onto one of motorsport’s greatest stages.

BMW’s Legacy in America

Celebrating 50 years in the U.S. market, BMW has become a powerhouse of design, innovation, and economic impact. Its Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina—the largest BMW production facility in the world—produces over 1,500 vehicles daily, supporting more than 120,000 jobs and contributing $43.3 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

As the BMW Art Car World Tour travels the United States, it’s more than a parade of priceless vehicles—it’s a moving tribute to the intersection of engineering excellence and artistic genius. From Pebble Beach to Washington, D.C., this journey celebrates 50 years of an art form that races not just for victory, but for history.

For more info, visit BMWUSANews.com