From the birth of its initial concept to the final stage of production, a car spends more than 4.5 years in FIZ fine-tuning its every minute detail to better suite the taste of its owner. In contrast, it only takes 40 hours for sheets of aluminum to exit the assembly line in the form of a Sedan or a Touring.
4.5 years may seem to be a long time but given the amount of design thoughts and quality control tests, such as electromagnetic stability test, collision test, etc, a prototype has to go through before entering mass production, it is really not a lot of time actually. For instance, there is even an acoustics department that engineers the very sound a door makes when it is slammed shut!
After the tour, we had a sumptuous Fusion lunch at Restaurant International in BMW Welt. One dish costs about €20 and it is mouthwatering simply from the look of it!
We then hit the BMW Museum next door which houses all the famous car models produced by BMW. Regardless of the rarity of the model, the cars showcased here are all originals, with the exception of 328 Mille Miglia which was participating in the 2010 Mille Miglia Storica during the time of our visit.
One of the highlights of the museum is BMW's tradition of using faber clay to model life sized prototypes which helps to render a realistic sensation for the car designers. This technique is still being practiced in BMW today.
Our last stop for today is Pinakothek der Moderne, a modern art museum showcasing a variety of art work from paintings to architecture.
What I really liked about the museum is that almost all exhibitions are regularly replaced from month to month which not only enhances the 'revisitability' of the museum but also reflects the sheer amount of artistic value Bavaria has to offer to the world.
Our museum guide is exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about art as he shared with us the history behind each piece of art work on display. I think this is important because it sets up the context for which the art exists.
In addition, understanding its history is also essential to understanding the state of mind of the working artist which not only enhances comprehension but also broadens our artistic expression.
Dinner was at L'Osteria - not very expensive (compared to other restaurants we went) but cooks one of the best pasta I've ever tasted. Thumbs up!
Not to forget the pretty waitress. ha. ha.
See you tomorrow! =D
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