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The uber-modern world of 'BMW Welt' (photos)

Road Trip 2011: In the heart of Munich, Germany, there's a mecca for fans of BMW cars, motorcycles, and the entire brand.

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BMW Welt

MUNICH--It's hallowed ground for fans of the BMW brand. Located across the street from BMW's headquarters here, the company has built BMW Welt--or "BMW World" in English--a giant, super-modern homage to its cars, motorcycles, and lifestyle.

With its signature "double cone" of glass, the building is a place for customers to take delivery of cars they have purchased, for fans to check out many of BMW's current car models or to see how they could customize their car, and in general just to soak up the brand.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Glass facade

BMW Welt is a huge building, located just across from BMW headquarters and the BMW Museum. This is a view of the building, looking right of the double cone.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

The bridge

There is a bridge that spans the large boulevard between BMW's headquarters, its museum, and BMW Welt. This is a view from the bridge of BMW Welt.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Customer ramp

One of the most important elements of BMW Welt is its customer delivery section. This is an area where those who have purchased a car can come to take delivery of the vehicle. But first, they can sit, learn all about it, and even drive it around on this interior ramp.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Inside

This is a view of BMW Welt from just inside the door at the end of the bridge to the headquarters and museum.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Floor

This is a view of the interior of the building from the floor of BMW Welt.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Hopping out of an Isetta

A young visitor to BMW Welt hops out of one of the company's classic cars, an Insetta. An employee gives rides inside the tiny car on the floor of the massive building.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

BMW R 42

Throughout the building, BMW displays some of its classic vehicles. Here, we see a BMW R 42, from 1926. Built with a 500cc side-valve, flat-twin engine, it offered 12 horsepower. It also had a rear brake mounted on the drive shaft, according to BMW.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

BMW 326 Sport-Kabriolett Glaser

This is a BMW 326 Sport-Kabriolett Glaser, which is placed on the floor of BMW Welt in order to attract visitors to the BMW Museum across the street.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Underneath the double cone

A view up at the double cone from the end of the bridge.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Exclusive leather

One of the features of BMW Welt is the Exclusive department, where customers can see how they can customize their cars. Here, we see some of the different colors of leather they can have installed in their car.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

X6 exterior colors

This is a display that shows the different colors that customers could order for an X6.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:

Audi

On Road Trip 2011, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman has been driving an Audi A6 3.0 TFSI. Though it may seem out of place, here it is, parked in front of BMW Welt.

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Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET / Caption by:
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