The 10th BMW Art Car

César Manrique's creative output focused on creating harmony between art and the environment. His Art Car, a 1990 BMW 730i, reflects this approach: inspired by the natural world of his native Lanzarote – in particular, birds in flight – he used dynamic reds, blues, greens, and purples to represent movement and lightness. Manrique's contribution to the BMW Art Car series also demonstrates his ability to blend machine and art, with bright colours and sweeping lines visualising speed and aerodynamics. In his own words: “I wanted to give the car a shape that would create the impression that it was gliding effortlessly through space.”

César Manrique (1919–1992), one of the most important Spanish artists of the 20th century, was a pioneer of environmental art. He was passionate about environmental conservation on Lanzarote, and helped make the island a model of sustainable development. A pioneer of abstract art in Spain, Manrique's paintings combine technological innovation with powerful artistic expression. He is recognised as a remarkable multi-talented artist – his skills ranged from painting, sculpture, and design all the way up to architecture and shaping entire public spaces.

César Manrique's Art Car was intended solely as an exhibition piece and has never been driven on the road or in a race.