As the title suggests, this is a photo report from my visit to the 102nd Brussels Motor Show. It was my first motor show in Brussels, and probably my first motor show of any kind in more than ten years. It did not disappoint.
There was one Formula 1 car, two Formula E cars, several concept cars (vehicles built to showcase design and technology, without any intention of going into production), one Bugatti, one Rimac, and much more. Obviously, I did not photograph everything. One could, if one really wanted to. I did not. I focused only on those technical creations that genuinely piqued my interest. You will find them below.
I will start with the obvious. Did you read my most recent Formula 1 LEGO article? If not, please do. This time, I finally got to see a life-sized Formula 1 car in person. Most likely there was nothing underneath the bodywork, and I am perfectly fine with that. What mattered was seeing it up close and understanding its sheer size. I was genuinely surprised by how big it actually is.
In my previous LEGO article, I compared three Formula 1 cars. At the Brussels Motor Show, I was able to see all of those elements again, this time on a much larger scale. The rear wing, the halo, the front wing, the vertical blades, and much more.
In just a few months, I will be able to see—and hear—these remarkable mechanical beasts in action at Spa-Francorchamps.
On the same day I visited the 102nd Brussels Motor Show, Audi was testing its first-ever Formula 1 car, the R26, in Barcelona. As a result, Audi’s Formula 1 project is no longer a concept but a tangible reality.
The same cannot necessarily be said about the vehicle below: the Audi Concept C. That said, for those wondering, this is a fully functional car. It can be driven by … Audi’s senior management. Presented in 2025, this concept car showcases Audi’s future design language. Reportedly, the next-generation Audi TT, expected in 2027, will incorporate several elements first seen on this concept.
Count me in as a fan.
Not only did I see my first Formula 1 car, but also my first WEC (World Endurance Championship) car. I honestly did not expect to take photos of so many Alpine vehicles, yet here we are.
Yes, this car was driven by Mick Schumacher, who raced for Alpine for two years before moving to the United States to compete in the IndyCar Series in 2026. Driving car number 36, Mick made 16 starts, achieved three podium finishes, and concluded the 2025 season at the 16th-place.
Perhaps attending a live WEC race at Le Mans or Spa in 2026 is also worth considering. We shall see.
This was an interesting showcase. Audi displayed its GTO car on the stand, allowing visitors to look underneath it, while the engine, gearbox, and transmission were exhibited separately alongside the car. This made the display particularly engaging.
Before attending the motor show, I had hoped to sit inside as many cars as possible. In the end, I did not sit in any of them.
This will be the last Alpine. I honestly do not know what to make of it. It looks amazing.
I did not take a photo of Europe’s Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz CLA. At least now you know that Europe’s chosen king is the Silver Arrow. To mark the occasion, I will instead leave you with two beautiful concept cars.
Simply a beautiful Porsche GT car.
Whenever I see a Lancia, I am immediately reminded of Jeremy Clarkson and his well-known affection for these Italian beauties. Do you remember the Audi versus Lancia special on Top Gear? The one where he famously said, “I’ve always had a soft spot for old Lancias. This time it is not soft…”
If you have not seen it, you really should. While you are looking for that episode, take a moment to admire this wonderful piece of rally engineering below.
At the 102nd Brussels Motor Show, I saw my first Bugatti. This is the Bugatti Tourbillon. It makes you wonder whether, in places like Monaco, Cannes, or Nice, these magnificent machines are truly a dime a dozen.
There is probably only one way to find out.
Next to the Bugatti, there was a Rimac as well. It is worth remembering that Bugatti is currently under the control of Mate Rimac, the brilliant engineer and founder of Rimac.
Much like with the Lancia above, my thoughts immediately went to that particular The Grand Tour episode in which Richard Hammond nearly lost his life while attempting a timed run in a Rimac high up in the Swiss mountains. If you have not seen that episode, you truly should.
More broadly, if you are a car enthusiast, I can also strongly recommend Andy Wilman’s book Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure, which offers behind-the-scenes stories from his time as producer of Top Gear and The Grand Tour.
Simply a blue Maserati. Looks stunning.
I do not even know what to make of this. It is a Hyundai. It looks like something you might have built while playing Need for Speed Underground 2 (yes, I am that old).
I did not get to sit in a car. I did not get to sit in a simulator. But I did manage to sit on a Ducati motorcycle.
There were tuned cars on display: Porsche, Lamborghini, and Ferrari. In the background of the Ferrari photo, you can see another Ferrari, although unfortunately I could not get a proper shot of it.
Honestly, nothing special.
The one brand that was missing—at least for me—was Koenigsegg. I have already seen plenty of Ferraris; now I have seen a Bugatti and a Rimac. Of course, many other supercars were not on display in Brussels, but if I had to name the single brand I truly wished had been present, hands down it would be Koenigsegg.
Sadly, there was also no Audi RS6 or R8. The only RS models on display were the RS3 and the RS Q8. It was more or less the same story with BMW’s M division, and if my memory serves me right, AMG models were also rather sparsely represented. But you cannot have everything—at least not in Brussels.
If you want them all, you need to go to Geneva Motor Show.
Thank you for having made it this far. I will seriously consider attending the 103rd Brussels Motor Show next year.
I should also find a place where I can properly try a simulator. Virtually all simulators at the Expo had extremely long queues. There was even one aimed specifically at MotoGP enthusiasts.
Photos taken using the Fujifilm X-S10 camera with Fujinon XF 18-55mm F/2.8-4.0 R LM OIS (kit)lens.
Kindly,
Olaaf
