Mercedes exhibition Autoworld Brussels

Dirk Ivens drew for Auto Motor Klassiek to Brussels, where Autoworld will close the year with a major Mercedes exhibition. "Mercedes, The Story of the Star" runs from December 19, 2025, to February 22, 2026, and aims to capture no less than 140 years of Mercedes-Benz in a single, well-organized museum tour. It's ambitious, but it succeeds surprisingly well.

Mercedes exhibition Autoworld Brussels

The exhibition not only commemorates the brand's 140th anniversary of automotive history, but also the merger of Daimler and Benz in 1926. Exactly one hundred years later, Autoworld reveals the legacy of this merger. Daimler's three-pointed star, symbolizing land, sea, and sky, and Benz's laurel wreath still form the core of the brand. This story is told through more than fifty cars, divided into themed zones.

From Benz to AMG ONE

The journey begins in the very early years of the automobile. Early Benz models illustrate how nascent and experimental everything began. From there, it quickly moves on to classics that have captured the Mercedes DNA. A 540 K Cabriolet and the inevitable 300 SL "Gullwing" demonstrate how technology, sportiness, and luxury converged early on. The journey ends with the AMG ONE, with which Mercedes today demonstrates just how far the concept of a road-legal car has stretched.

Innovation as a trademark

Mercedes is synonymous with technology. In Brussels, this is substantiated with tangible examples. The 1936 260 D, the world's first production diesel passenger car, isn't presented as a curiosity, but as proof of technical daring. Later breakthroughs in safety and comfort are also given context, without becoming bogged down in marketing rhetoric.

Silver arrows and muscles

Mercedes has always had a raw edge, and it's given plenty of space here. A classic Silver Arrow stands side by side with a Formula 1 car from the Lewis Hamilton era. The Sauber-Mercedes C9, winner of Le Mans in 1989, is one of the absolute eye-catchers. Equally impressive is the "Rote Sau," the supercharged 300 SEL 6.8 with which AMG burst onto the international motorsport scene in 1971.

Luxury, supercars and the public

In addition to racing cars and icons, the exhibition focuses on the S-Class and SL as rolling representations of Mercedes luxury through the years. Supercars and concept cars like the C111, CLK GTR, and SLR McLaren Stirling Moss connect the past and present. Autoworld makes the whole experience accessible with a children's area and concludes the exhibition with a large Cars & Coffee on February 22, 2026. The Mercedes exhibition at Autoworld Brussels is therefore not a static tribute, but a living overview of a brand that is constantly reinventing itself.

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Practical information Mercedes exhibition Autoworld Brussels

The exhibition "Mercedes, The Story of the Star" will be on display at Autoworld Brussels from December 19, 2025, to February 22, 2026. Autoworld is located in the Cinquantenaire Park and is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; on weekends and during school holidays, the museum closes at 6:00 PM.

Admission prices are the regular Autoworld rates. Adults pay €17, seniors and students €13, and children aged 4 to 12 pay €13. Tickets are available both at the box office and online.

More information about opening hours, accessibility and events such as the closing Cars & Coffee can be found at www.autoworld.be.

(Below are the photos)