BMW’S WELT & MUSEUM (pictured above)
BMW Welt is a striking architectural landmark where visitors explore the breadth of the BMW Group brands – BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, Motorrad – including the opportunity to view that lineups’ latest models. The free-to-enter Munich venue also offers guided tours and workshops, while just a short walk opposite awaits the BMW Museum which allows a journey through more than 100 years of motoring magnificence.
Its exhibitions cover the company’s origins, design, technology, motorsport legacies, series models, motorcycle heritage, brand evolution – and even remembrance. Together, these two venues offer both a modern showcase of innovation and a historical narrative of BMW’s incredible development.
THE LOUWMAN
The handsome Louwman Museum houses the world’s oldest private automobile collection, in assembly since 1934 by the institution’s eponymous family, and housing nearly 300 cars, some of which reach back to the late 19th century. Adding to its allure, the building, designed by American architect Michael Graves, and its landscaping by Dutch designer Lodewijk Baljon, blend gracefully into the surroundings in South Holland in the Netherlands.
N°001 MINAMI AOYAMA
Aston Martin recently unveiled N°001 Minami Aoyama, its first ultra-luxury private residence in Asia. Created in partnership with VIBROA Inc., the four-storey townhouse sits in Tokyo’s coveted Omotesandō neighbourhood, with a highlight being the automotive gallery, designed to display two Aston Martins as sculptural works of art. This offering continues the brand’s bespoke residential ventures, following the Aston Martin Residences in Miami and The Astera on Al Marjan Island in the Persian Gulf, uniting architectural design with automotive-inspired luxury living.
PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
Perched on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit shrine to car culture, founded in 1994 by Robert E Petersen. This year marks a decade since its spectacular US$125 million renovation, now boasting an eye-catching facade, more than 25 galleries, interactive exhibits, and over 100 vehicles on display. Head to the Vault to feast your eyes on more than 300 of the rarest vehicles ever assembled, a collection that spans more than 120 years and includes vintage and Hollywood rides.
MERCEDES BENZ MUSEUM
Opened in 2006, the Mercedes-Benz Museum shimmers in Stuttgart, Germany. Its spectacular architecture, by UNStudio van Berkel & Bos, features a double-helix interior and three overlapping circles which merge beautiful design with the most efficient use of space. The museum spans nine levels and displays more than 160 vehicles and over 1,500 exhibits, including the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen and luxury, motorsport, commercial vehicles, as well as concepts of the future.
CAR TOWERS OF AUTOSTADT
The Car Towers in Wolfsburg are two striking 48-metre high, cylindrical structures forming the landmark Volkswagen Group facility of Autostadt, which, when combined can hold up to 800 new cars. Serving as both a storage facility and delivery hub, cars arrive from nearby factories via a rolling conveyor into a basement, then are lifted effortlessly into their final spot inside the towers – all in under two minutes. When buyers come to collect their vehicles, the system retrieves the car and brings it through an underground tunnel to the Customer Centre for final licence plates and handover. The towers even hold the Guinness World Record for the fastest automatic parking system!
View the journey of a new car from the factory to the customer at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg below.
PORSCHE MUSEUM
Located beside the company’s headquarters in Stuttgart, the futuristic Porsche Museum was designed by Delugan Meissl. The 56,000sqm exhibition hall holds more than 80 vehicles as well as 200 smaller exhibit spaces with visitors travelling through chronologically arranged zones, seeing classics like the Porsche 356 “No. 1” Roadster, the 911 family, and racing legends like the 917. The museum also includes a historical archive, a workshop for classic restoration, multiple dining venues, and event spaces.
LEXUS’ HALO MOTOMACHI PLANT
At the Lexus Motomachi plant in Yokohama, Japan, craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology merge to create the LC coupe. Guided by eight Takumi master craftsmen, every stage involves meticulous care, from precision alignment checks by eye and touch to final inspections under perfect LED lighting. With carbon-fibre expertise, flawless paintwork, and immaculate facilities, the plant sets the benchmark for quality. Each car reflects Lexus’ philosophy that true luxury is achieved through dedication, skill, and attention to even the smallest detail.
