Concorso D’Eleganza

The Aston Martin Bulldog seen here is unlike any other Aston because it is the only one of its kind in the world, thanks to its striking angular wedge-shaped design. It has undergone an 18-month long restoration.

Remember the Ares Panther? It’s the modern-day De Tomaso Pantera that arrived at our doorstep before the De Tomaso brand itself could scramble back into existence, and it made a surprise appearance at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este near Lake Como, in Italy. The Panther is a Huracan under the skin, but that skin is all that matters because, well, point me to another car from 2019 with pop-up headlights. I’ll wait.

We all like restomods which is, broadly, the art of reviving an old car by infusing just the right amount of modern tech to make it relevant in today’s world while also not diluting its spirit too much in the process. Singer has done it beautifully, crafting some rolling works of art and that’s just one example. We’ve actually compiled a list of some of the best restomodded cars out there but, before you check that out, take a look at the Ares Panther, a different take on the concept of restomodding. Instead of taking an old chassis and body and upgrading it to make it handle like new while still looking unapologetically old, Ares decided to refresh a classic design and use some modern underpinnings to make sure they end up with a sound car that goes as fast as it looks.

Introduced in 2015 as a replacement for the 458 Italia, the Ferrari 488 GTB is already an iconic supercar. It already spawned a topless, Spider version, as well as a replacement for the 458 Speciale, called the 488 Pista. Racing duties go to the 488 GTE and 488 GT3 for the most coveted classes in the FIA-governed championships. Much like its predecessor, it was also used for a custom limited-edition model, called the J50 and built in just ten units to celebrate 50 years since the Italian brand arrived in Japan. Come 2018 and Ferrari rolled off yet another bespoke model. It’s called the SP38, and only one will ever see the light of day.

Developed by company’s One-Off program, the SP38 was designed by the Ferrari Design Center on the chassis and running gear of the 488 GTB. It was unveiled at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, where it was handed over to one of the company’s most dedicated customers. The new supercar will be on public display for the first time at the 2018 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este before it will find its way in a heated garage. Needless to say, the SP38 is the most intriguing version of the 488 GTB yet, and it will probably become a highly sought-after collectible in a few years.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ferrari SP38.

Four years ago, Italian coach builder Zagato unveiled the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato, a one-off creation that spawned into a limited edition series because deep-pocketed customers couldn’t get enough of it. Fast forward to 2018, and we could be in for a case of déjà vu. Sitting on Zagato’s website for all the world to see is a rendering of the Lamborghini L595 Zagato, a droptop version of the 5-95 Zagato that we saw in 2014. It’s unclear if Zagato has plans to build this version, but the image was accompanied by “2018,” a sign that we could see this car come to life sometime this year.

Rumors of BMW planning to revive the 8 Series nameplate have been swirling around for quite a few years, and German brand officials didn’t bother to official confirm or dismiss the claims. But it’s finally official! The 8 Series is coming back, and we have a teaser photo as confirmation. The two-door coupe was confirmed at BMW’s Annual General Meeting in Munich on May 11 and will make its first public appearance at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at the end of the month in the form of a concept car. Yey!

Now don’t let the "concept car" formulation ruin your day. The show car will most definitely be followed by a production model. According to BMW, the concept car "provides an exclusive look ahead to the BMW 8 Series Coupe slated for 2018," so we’ll be seeing the actual vehicle in about a year or so. Time for another "yey!," huh? The German firm also said that the concept "embodies uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe." And the teaser photo seems to confirm just that in terms of exterior design.

Continue reading for the full story.

If you look back on this history of the Villa d’Este Concours event, you will find a lot of hype about models like the BMW CSL Hommage from last year and the 328 Hommage from before that. Needless to say, BMW likes to bring the past to present with some interesting concepts that pay tribute to older models from years past. This year, BMW is bringing another “very special model,” called the BMW 2002 Hommage, a model that is based on the BMW 2002 Turbo.

Underneath all the fancy body lines and the little pieces that trigger memories from way back when, the BMW 2002 Hommage is probably just an M2. Be that as it may, it’s still a pretty nice place to start. Adrian van Hooydonk, the Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, said, “Exactly 50 years ago, the 02 range kick-started an era of success for BMW. This compact coupe is one of the vehicles which made the brand what it is today. The 2002 sat at the top of the range and was the first series-produced car anywhere in Europe to come with turbo technology. That set the seal on the coupe as a genuine sports car. At the same time, the 2002 turbo was at the technological vanguard of engine development at BMW. The BMW 2002 Hommage is our way of raising a glass to all these achievements.”

Karim Habib, the Head of Design for BMW Automobiles, believes that the BMW 2002 Hommage “encapsulates BMW’s major motorsport triumphs” and is a “confident statement of unadulterated driving joy.” So, with that said, let’s take a closer look at BMW’s latest concept for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and what it’s all about.

Update 08-24-2016: We’ve created a new video that covers the highlights of the BMW 2002 Hommage. Click on play to see it for yourself.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 2002 Hommage.

Perched on the edge of Lake Como, in the municipality of Cernobbio in Northern Italy, you’ll find the glamorous Villa d’Este hotel. Every year around springtime, this swank destination plays host to some of the most exclusive vintage automobiles on the planet, with millions upon millions of dollars in high-grade metal on display, complementing the surrounding natural beauty with handcrafted bodywork and polished tailpipes. The goal of the event is simple in theory, but highly nuanced in practice – win the hearts of those in attendance in a contest of elegance.

Think of it as a competitive automotive fashion show for the collector car upper crust, where only the most rare and highly coveted machines are invited to participate. An atmosphere of pageantry and tradition permeates throughout, creating the right environment in which to enjoy all that high-end four-wheeled sculpture.

First held in the 1929, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este went on hiatus during WWII, only to be re-launched in the mid ‘90s as a classic car event. This year, 52 vintage automobiles showed up to the party, as did a slew of forward-looking concepts from Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, and BMW. Despite initial threats of rain, the weather was warm and sunny, with blue skies and glittering water providing the perfect backdrop for nearly nine decades of vehicular excellence.

We’ve recapped all the big happenings from this year’s event right here, including the concepts and show winners, so read on for more.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Introduced in 2001 as a successor to the aging Virage, the V12 Vanquish received an extensive redesign in 2012. Previewed by the Project AM310 Concept, the second-gen Vanquish’s exterior design is an evolution of the DBS with many styling cues inspired by the limited-edition One-77. The grand tourer also gained a new interior based on the one found in the supercar with hand-stitched leather and an updated infotainment system as standard equipment. Under the hood, the 5.9-liter V-12 was uprated from the first-generation’s 520 to 565 horsepower and later to 568 horses. In 2016, the second-gen Vanquish is celebrating four years on the market and Aston Martin is introducing the Vanquish Zagato Concept at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that goes back to the early 1960s, the Vanquish Zagato Concept brings together classic Aston Martin styling cues and design features seen on previous limited-edition and concept models such as the One-77 and CC100 Speedster. The grand tourer also borrows some elements from the brand-new DB11, which suggests that it might preview the third-generation Vanquish that’s set to arrive by the end of the decade.

"Over the years, we have developed and refined our own design language and we have always gone that little bit further with our special series cars like CC100, One-77 and Aston Martin Vulcan. The Vanquish Zagato Concept shows how our two companies can come together and push the definition of Aston Martin design," said Marek Reichman, executive vice president and chief creative officer of the British brand.

"We pride ourselves on our strong partnership and the creation of the Vanquish Zagato Concept was a true shared experience," added Zagato CEO Andrea Zagato, "it represents the essence of an important design relationship that dates back over fifty years."

Set to break cover at Lake Como in Italy, the Vanquish Zagato Concept joins iconic Zagato-designed Aston Martins such as the DB4 GT Zagato of 1960 and the V12 Vantage Zagato of 2011.

Updated 05/24/2016: We added a series of new video taken during the Vanquish Zagato Concept’s official debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza. Hit "play" to see how stunning this Vanquish looks in reality. Enjoy!

Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Concept.

There’s something inherently and wonderfully surreal about an automotive concours event. At its heart, it’s just a car show, but the most common venue is a beautifully manicured golf course. This is not a place where automobiles are normally seen. And the automobiles in question are far from ordinary as well; the best, most spectacular and most esoteric of classics are chosen, cars that are as much works of art as they are vehicles. In many cases, these cars are so beautifully restored that it’s a wonder they’re even allowed outdoors, let alone off of pavement. It’s a spectacle like no other.

Now in its 37th year, the Concours d’Elegance of America brought 300 cars to Plymouth, MI, for a world-class event on a hot summer afternoon. This annual event has gone through a number of name changes over the years; the last time I was here it was called the Meadowbrook Concours. The event has only gotten better over the years. A panel of 65 judges, including FCA Head of Design Ralph Gillies, retired Ford VP of design Jack Telnack, and automotive-media luminaries Jean Jennings, Frank Markus and Donald Perterson, selected winners.

This year’s Best of Show (European) was a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe. The car, owned by the Patterson Collection of Louisville, KY, was fresh off of a Best of Show victory at the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance in Kentucky. Best of Show (American) went to a 1929 Duesenberg Model J owned by Charles Letts, Jr., of Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Continue reading for the full story.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary of operations in North America, BMW is preparing a world premiere of two new concept cars, slated for an unveiling at the upcoming Monterey Car Week. The cars will officially drop cover August 13th at 6:00 p.m. during Bimmer’s annual press conference at the BMW Villa in Pebble Beach, with follow-up appearances planned later in the weekend at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Legends of the Autobahn Concours d’Elegance, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and of course, the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Several BMW execs will be on hand during the press conference, including Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America; Karim Habib, Director of BMW Design; and Dirk Haecker, VP of R&D at BMW M GmbH. 

BMW has not revealed any details on what concepts will be making an appearance, but speculation seems to center on the new 2016 BMW M2 and 2016 BMW M4 GTS, both of which are expected in final production form some time before the end of the year. And considering Dirk Haecker’s presence at the press conference, that’s probably a safe bet.

So far, BMW has only provided us with a teaser image showing a drawing of a very rectangular, racing-style steering wheel, complete with M-brand stitching and enormous gear paddles, a possible indication that a new M car will indeed be part of the debut. 

Other possibilities include the upcoming Z4 successor, a collaborative effort between Toyota and BMW, and a high-performance variant of the 7 Series.

Personally, I’m feeling something techy, perhaps with a hybrid, or even hydrogen drivetrain. What I’d really like to see is the successor to the 2015 BMW i8, but I’m not holding my breath.

Continue reading for the full story.

It would be wrong to describe the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este as a classic car show. It is in a whole other league of classic car event, along with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, though the Villa d’Este event is much older, and the model on which the Pebble Beach event was built. These events have become so popular that big that manufacturers now bring concepts, the same as they do for big international auto shows. Sometimes these are new concepts, but usually they’re cars that have been shown before, brought to give the mega-rich attendees of the event a closer look.

This year, Lamborghini brought the Asterion plug-in hybrid hypercar concept that was unveiled toward the end of last year. The video will give us a much better look at it, and we’ll hear the 5.2-liter V-10 (admittedly not a new engine) being fired up. We get some good looks at the details as well, although the somewhat questionable looks of the car are still very much present. But the car does look very much at home on the hotel grounds, which is surely why Lamborghini chose to bring it.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has got to be one of the coolest and most unique car events in the world right now. Built 1568, the Villa d’Este Hotel on the shores of Lake Como in Italy is the backdrop for this extraordinary and intimate event, which welcomes classic cars and motorcycles, as well as modern concepts and race cars. Among others, 2015 brought out the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept, a 1961 Ferrari GT SWB California Spider that sold at auction for over $11 million, and Cameron Glickenhaus’s SCG003, fresh off its finish at the Nürburgring 24 hour race.

But, the best in show award went to this pristine 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider, owned by American collector David Sydorick and wearing coach-built bodywork from Zagato. The 8C was Enzo Ferrari’s race car of choice before he started building his own several years later. With a 2.3-liter inline-eight cylinder engine, Alfa Romeo never intended the 8C 2300 to be a road car, but eventually decided to sell it as a rolling chassis due to high demand. Wealthy owners then took their 8C chassis to Carrozzerrias (coach builders), like Pininfarina, Touring, or, in this case, Zagato, to have them fitted with bodies of their choosing.

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Italian coachbuilder Zagato may design fewer automobiles than it used to back in the day, but that’s not to say its creations are less impressive. And we have the Maserati Monstro as proof, which the Italians are planning to reveal at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este this summer.

The coachbuilt custom, which will hit the stage as part of Maserati’s 100th anniversary year, pays tribute to a unique race car Zagato crafted for Maserati in the 1950s. Using a 450S, one of Maserati’s most successful racers, Zagato constructed a special aerodynamic coupe drawn by Frank Costin. The car was commissioned and raced by Stirling Moss at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Although it failed to finish, the Maserati 450S Coupe Zagato became known as "il Mostro" (which translates into "the Monster") for its incredible power output. According to Maserati, it remained the most powerful front-engined race car in the world into the 1990s.

Nearly six decades later, the Mostro returns as a modern-day interpretation from the same coachbuilder that gave us the original Alfa Romeo 8C, Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, and the Alfa Romeo TZ.

Continue reading to learn more about the Maserati Mostro By Zagato.

Seven years since it unveiled the M1 Hommage, a concept car paying tribute to the iconic M1, or BMW’s only true-blue sports car as of 2015, the Bavarian automaker introduced the 3.0 CSL Hommage at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. As the name suggests, this new concept celebrates the 3.0 CSL, an homologation special launched in 1972 and the brand’s most successful race car. Nicknamed the "Batmobile" due to its extreme aerodynamic package, the 3.0 CSL scored resounding wins at Sebring, Daytona and Talladega, where it defeated the Porsche 935, among other famous race cars. With more than 100 wins under its belt, the 3.0 CSL definitely deserves a modern homage.

“Our Hommage cars not only demonstrate how proud we are of our heritage, but also how important the past can be in determining our future,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, vice president of BMW Design. Although this may sound like a hint of things to come, it’s very unlikely Munich will revive the 3.0 CSL in the 21st century. It remains to be seen whether some of these styling features or parts of the futuristic interior will find their way into a production, but in the meantime the Hommage remains a tribute to the company’s glorious past.

Updated 05/22/2015: BMW unveiled the new 3.0 CSL Hommage concept car at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage.

Every spring since 1929, automakers and well-to-do enthusiasts from around the world have gathered at the Villa d’Este, a luxury hotel perched on the shores of Lake Como in Cernobbio, Italy, to participate in the Concorso d’Eleganza, an elegance competition (they hate it if you call it a car show) that brings out some of the finest vintage cars and classic motorcycles in existence, not to mention debuts for a variety of concepts and prototypes. For the past 10 years, BMW Group has had the responsibility of organizing the event, and for this year’s gathering, the German automaker is teasing “two sensational exhibits from the field of concept vehicles.”

Details on the concepts are non-existent, but looking to past events for clues, we’ve seen Bimmer use the Concorso d’Eleganza to debut vehicles like the 2008 M1 Hommage, 2013 Gran Lusso Coupe, and 2012 Zagato Coupe. Other standout appearances include the Aston Martin One-77.

The theme for this year is “Seventies Style – The Jet Set is back,” with early European and Japanese superbikes plus many classic Minis scheduled for exhibition. There will also be five unique models from the BMW Art Cars Collection.

The ’70s was a particularly important decade for BMW, with a company-wide restructure and product portfolio reshuffling that saw the launch of the 5 Series, 3 Series, 6 Series, and 7 Series, all crammed into a brief seven-year period between 1970 and 1977. “Many innovations from this era continue to define BMW’s image to this day, from the model designations to the hallmark design cues that typify the brand,” BMW stated in a press release.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be held May 22nd through 24th. Keep it locked to TopSpeed for updates.

Continue reading for the full story.

Note: 2012 BMW Zagato Coupe pictured here.

The 1950s and 1960s gave us the most exquisite sports cars and race vehicles ever built. The Italians had Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, the British had Aston Martin and Jaguar, while the French had Gordini and Alpine. Be it grand tourers, lightweight coupes and lightning-fast barchettas, these companies built them all. They showcased them on the streets and on the tracks, drawing the utmost attention during an era in which beauty and speed blended perfectly.

All these cars have grown into rare collectibles that fetch dollars by the millions. Most of them cost more than a brand new Ferrari, while numerous classic Ferraris are pricier than a mansion with a Bugatti Veyron in its huge front yard. It says a lot about the way these cars were built back in the day and the exclusivity that came with most of them. As much as we hate it, those days are never coming back. However, thanks to a number of small ventures around Europe, we can still see classic-inspired automobiles being built in the 21st century.

One of those companies is Fratelli Frigerio. It was set up by brothers Leonardo and Vittorio Frigerio in Vidigulfo, Italy with one purpose in mind: build an authentic grand tourer using coachbuilding techniques and a design inspired from the greatest Italian automobiles ever created. The result is Barchetta SS, an Alfa Romeo-powered coupe that bears an astonishing resemblance to the almighty Ferrari 250 GTO. Although only a prototype as of August 2014, the Berlinetta SS is definitely a project you need to check out.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Fratelli Frigerio "Berlinetta SS".

Lamborghini and Zagato have a long history of working together, having collaborated on a handful of past one-off models, including the first Zagato-bodied Lamborghini, the 3500 GTZ. From it, a 50-year relationship was born and has culminated in the latest collaboration: the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato.

Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4, considered as the best-selling Lamborghini in history, the 5-95 Zagato is essentially a new aesthetic look of the Gallardo LP570-4, designed by Zagato to evoke an instant classic look that shows the purest expression of Zagato’s unique coach-building skills. One look at it and you can immediately tell the noticeable differences between what a Gallardo looks like and what Zagato did to the 5-95.

Unfortunately, the supercar’s look is as far as the changes are concerned. Under its hood - and pretty much all mechanical functions - is still purely Lamborghini. What that means is you still get a 5.2-liter V-10 engine that produces 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque.

It would’ve been nice to have seen a little performance bump but we’re not complaining on how the entire collaboration came about. That’s one nice looking Zagato-commissioned Lamborghini 5-95, if we do say so ourselves.

Updated 08/07/2014: Zagato produced its second Lamborghini 5-95 which is now ready to leave the Zagato facility in Milano on its way to meet her lucky collector. This second unit is painted in a cool pearl yellow paint. (Farhan AlBastaki)

Click past the jump to read more about the Lamborghini 5-95 By Zagato.

Mini has always been one to adhere to the saying "thinking outside the box" and that was no more evident than its a recent collaboration with Italian design house Touring Superleggera to create an open-top, two-seater concept called the Superleggera Vision.

The concept made its debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 over the weekend, catching more than just the interest of those who attended the event.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the design of the Superleggera Vision because it’s been a while since Mini has a vehicle that looks as sporty and as athletic as this one. (Apologies to the current Mini Roadster, but you’re still a roofless Cooper at best).

But the Superleggera Vision is far from a disguised Cooper. Other than those headlights and the new grill on the new Cooper, this concept has its own retro-styled look and is as dynamic a Mini as there’s been in recent years.

Hopefully, this isn’t the last we see of the Mini Superleggera Vision. If we had our way, this would be in line for production in the next few years. But even if we don’t get to make that kind of decision, we’re confident that Mini will hear the public calls and consider it anyway.

Click past the jump to read more about the Mini Superleggera Vision.

Now this is a little embarrassing, wouldn’t you say?

The McLaren P1 was supposed to be the crown jewel of the British automaker; a testament to the ingenuity of the company and manifested in a finely chiseled package.

Well, that was the prevaling thought, at least until the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este when the McLaren P1 mysteriously conked out at the most inopportune of time.

Whoops.

In this video captured by Marchettino, you can see McLaren engineers frantically trying to get the P1 up and running. The exercise, unfortunately, proved to be futile and McLaren was left with little recourse but to tow up in a truck and presumably send it back to Woking.

You can even look a little closer and you might notice that a BMW engineer went in and helped push the car into the where it was going to get craned back inside a trailer.

Talk about getting egg splattered all over your face.

Click past the jump to read about the McLaren P1

Every time we see Pininfarina make the news with a new concept it’s developing, we can’t help but get excited about what the Italian coachbuilder has in store for us.

Well, it looks like Pininfarina is preparing something; a concept, it appears, that will make its debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este later this month.

The concept, which has been dubbed as the one-off Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe, was designed and collaborated with BMW and comes as a notable successor to the BMW Z4 Zagato Coupe that BMW and Zagato also introduced at last year’s event.

While the two companies said nothing about it, it has been rumored that the concept is in fact a preview version of a possible 8-Series luxury car. We’re jut hopping it will become reality!

Updated 05/31/2013: BMW and Pininfarina have released a video of Fabio Filippini and Karim Habib outlining the design process and showing how the two companies worked together to create a car that was both a Bimmer and a Pininfarina.

Updated 05/24/2013: BMW has unveiled the official details, images and specs on the new Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé Concept.

Updated 05/7/2013: After revealing the official details on the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, BMW also unveiled a first video revealing some details on the concept’s design. Enjoy!

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé Concept.

Have we ever told you Marchettino is our favorite Youtube user? Yes, we know we did, but we are saying it once again! And if you don’t trust us just watch this pretty cool video he has filmed at the 2012 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The start of the video: BMW i8 Concept.

The BMW i8 Concept is powered by a 220 HP turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine driving the rear axle combined with two electric motors driving the front wheels and that add another 139 HP. As a result the i8 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and will offer a fuel economy of 94 mpg. Top speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.

Impressive numbers for the i8, right? But it has been reported that the future of the hybrid supercar has been endangered. Lets hope not, though!