Cernobbio, 11 May, 2012

The participants in this year’s Concept Cars & Prototypes competition have been announced at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este press conference in Milan. “We’re delighted to see a steady rise in the number of entrants for the Concept Cars & Prototypes concours,” said Karl Baumer, President of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and Director of BMW Group Classic.

... 2011 gallery (370 images) >>> 

“The contrast between the historical façade of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and the automotive design of the future holds a very special fascination for our visitors,” observed Dr Jean-Marc Droulers, member of the Supervisory Board at Villa d’Este S.p.A and Honorary Chairman of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The winner of the competition is chosen not by a jury, but by the visitors to the concours at Villa Erba on the Sunday of the event. This year will bring together the following candidates:

• The Ford Evos, with which Ford showcased the central elements of its global product strategy to the public at last year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA)
• Rimac Concept One, which represents a key step by the Croat carmaker towards its aim of building the world’s best electrically-driven sports car
• Rinspeed Dock+Go, whose modular design and powertrain once again demonstrate the creativity of company founder Frank M. Rinderknecht
• Stile Bertone Jaguar B99, which projects the classic style of Jaguar into the future – complete with a touch of Bertone elegance – as the Italian coachbuilder celebrates its centenary
• Italdesign Giugiaro Brivido, which showcases Giorgetto Giugiaro’s vision of an extraordinary sports car with environment-friendly technology
• Pininfarina Cambiano, a luxurious sports limousine whose materials and environmental compatibility meet the highest standards
• Toyota Lexus LF-LC, the award-winning 2+2-seater coupé conceived at Toyota’s Calty studio in California, which already caused quite a stir at its premiere in Detroit
• Alfa Romeo 4 C Concept, whose rear-wheel drive and 4-cylinder engine promise a full dose of driving pleasure and the roadholding for which Alfa Romeo is renowned

In addition to the cars previewed above, visitors can also expect one or two surprises – as has become customary at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The first ever BMW concept car comes to Lake Como.

The BMW Group traditionally enters models out of competition in the Concept Cars & Prototypes concours. This year the company dipped back into its illustrious history for inspiration and will bring the first concept car ever built by the brand to Lake Como. The BMW Turbo turned heads when it was first unveiled in 1972, with hopes raised that here was a preview of the out-and-out sports car many customers had long desired. The gullwing doors so indicative of that era, an innovative paint scheme and an interior whose cockpit previewed that of future BMW models ensured the Turbo would go down as an icon of BMW design. Ultimately, the Turbo – designed by Paul Bracq – never did enter series production. It was left to the BMW M1, launched six years later, to fulfil the dream that Bracq’s car had so tantalisingly sown.

Premiere event with a first-class jury

One of the main reasons why the Concorso d’Eleganza has become one of the premiere events on the international classic car calendar is the quality of the jury and the credentials of its members. The aim has always been to assemble a group of people offering a deep and diverse pool of knowledge, combined with an international profile and extensive experience. And these were the criteria used to select the members of the Concorso jury once again this year. Chairing the jury is Lorenzo Ramaciotti, currently head of design at the Fiat Group and former Pininfarina design chief. “The jury evaluates the cars by examining and comparing certain elements,” he explains. “We then get together to discuss our objective and subjective impressions in depth during an often very lively meeting.” The jury is assisted by its secretary, Carlo Otto Brambilla. The members of this year’s jury are:

• Charles Lord March (host of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival events)
• Patrick le Quément (former head of design at Renault)
• Harm Lagaay (former head of design at Ford, BMW and Porsche)
• Winston Goodfellow (journalist and automotive historian)
• Hideo Kodama (designer and illustrator)
• Stefano Pasini (eye specialist, freelance journalist and author of several automotive books)
• Nick Mason (founding member and drummer of rock band Pink Floyd and passionate racing driver)
• Ian Cameron (Design Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars).
• Martin Roth (Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London) will join the jury this year as an Honorary Judge.
  
  

Class A … Graceful Open Air-Style

02. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (1922)
Picadilly Roadster
Coachwork: Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work
Entrant: Caesar Peier CH

04. Rolls-Royce Phantom I (1925)
Drophead Coupé
Coachwork: Manessius
Entrant: René Herzog (CH)

06. Packard Twelve 15th Series (1937)
Convertible Victoria
Coachwork: Dietrich
Entrant: Oriol Vilanova (E)

08. Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1937)
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Voll & Ruhrbeck
Entrant: Norbert Seeger (FL)

10. Cord 812 S/C (1937)
Phaeton
Coachwork: Cord
Entrant: Mario von Allmen (CH)

12. Mercedes-Benz 540 K (1939)
Spezial Roadster
Coachwork: Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen
Entrant: Berthold Albrecht (D)

Class B … Interpretations of Elegance

14. Talbot AV105 (1933)
Sports Tourer
Coachwork: James Young
Entrant: Robert Follows (CA)

16. Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 (1935)
Pescara Spider
Coachwork: Touring
Entrant: Paolo Carlini (CH)

18. Delahaye 145 (1937)
Coupé
Coachwork: Chapron
Entrant: Peter Mullin (USA)

20. Lancia Astura IV Serie (1937)
Roadster
Coachwork: Motto
Entrant: Silvano Gerani (I)

22. BMW 335 (1939)
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Autenrieth
Entrant: Davide Pezzo (I)

24. Chrysler Town & Country (1941)
Station Wagon
Coachwork: Pekin Wood Products
Entrant: Peter Heydon (USA)

Class C … The Art of Streamlining

26. Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS 6th Series (1933)
Coupé
Coachwork: Figoni
Entrant: David Cohen (CA)

28. Avions Voisin C 25 (1935)
Berline Aerodyne
Coachwork: Avions Voisin
Entrant: René Rey (CH)

30. Aston Martin C Type Speed (1939) s/n
Roadster
Coachwork: Bertelli
Entrant: Giuseppe Redaelli (I)

32. Tatra 87 (1939)
Sedan Aerodynamic
Coachwork: Ringhoffer Tatra Werke
Entrant: Karol Pavlu (SK)

34. Volkhart V2 Sagitta (1947)
Coupé
Coachwork: Fuchs
Entrant: Walter Traxler (A)

36. Maserati A6 1500 (1947)
Coupé
Coachwork: Pinin Farina
Entrant: Silvia Nicolis (I)

Class D … Little Jewels

38. Abarth 204 A (1950)
Spider
Coachwork: Motto
Entrant: Sergio Alberto Lugo (AR)

40. Porsche 550/1500 RS (1954) s/n 550-0010
Spider
Coachwork: Porsche
Entrant: Kurt A. Engelhorn (CH)

42. Moretti 750 Grand Sport (1954)
Coupé
Coachwork: Moretti
Entrant: Alex Vazeos (GR)

44. Abarth - Fiat 500 (1957)
Coupé
Coachwork: Zagato
Entrant: Shiro Kosaka (JP)

46. O.S.C.A.-Fratelli Maserati 1600 SP (1963)
Coupé
Coachwork: Osca
Entrant: Alfieri Maserati (I)

Class E … Stars of the Rock'n'Roll Era

48. Ferrari 212 Inter (1952) s/n 0235EU
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Pinin Farina
Entrant: Kenneth Roath (USA)

50. Ferrari 212 Inter (1953) s/n 0265EU
Coupé
Coachwork: Pinin Farina
Entrant: Wolfgang Roell (CH)

52. Porsche 356 Pre A (1953)
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Reutter
Entrant: Volker Klemp (D)

54. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (1956)
Coupé Gullwing
Coachwork: Mercedes-Benz
Entrant: Lionel Scotto le Massese (F)

56. Maserati A6G 2000 (1956)
Coupé
Coachwork: Allemano
Entrant: Marcel Lammerée (NL)

58. BMW 507 (1958) s/n 70.155 "HB SE 507H" (D)
Roadster
Coachwork: Baur
Entrant: Heiko Seekamp (D)

Class F … The Ferrari 250 Dynasty

60. Ferrari 250 Europa (1954) s/n 0313EU
Coupé
Coachwork: Vignale
Entrant: Heinrich Kämpfer (CH)

62. Ferrari 250 GT Europa (1955) s/n 0399GT
Coupé
Coachwork: Pinin Farina
Entrant: Pier Giorgio Mastroeni (I)

64. Ferrari 250 GT (1956) s/n 0515GT
Berlinetta
Coachwork: Zagato
Entrant: David Sydorick (USA)

66. Ferrari 250 GT (1961) s/n 3059GT
Spider California
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Entrant: Andrew Pisker (UK)

68. Ferrari 250 GT SWB (1962) s/n 3539GT
Berlinetta
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Entrant: Jean-Pierre Slavic (CH)

70. Ferrari 250 GTL (1964) s/n 5661GT
Coupé
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Entrant: Heinz Schweizer (CH)

Class G … La Dolce Vita

72. Ferrari 400 Superamerica (1962) s/n 3747SA
Aerodynamic
Coachwork: Pininfarina
Entrant: Peter S. Kalikow (USA)

74. Maserati 5000 GT (1962)
Coupé
Coachwork: Allemano
Entrant: Frans van Haren (NL)

76. Lancia Flaminia (1963)
Coupé
Coachwork: Pininfarina
Entrant: Corrado Lopresto (I)

78. Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Prototype (1967) s/n
Coupé  ... >>>>> Berlinetta
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Entrant: Gerard van Bergen (NL)

80. Lamborghini Miura SV/J (1972)
Coupé
Coachwork: Bertone
Entrant: Mario Rossi (I)

82. Lamborghini LP 400 Countach (1975)
Coachwork: Bertone
Entrant: Paul van Doorne (NL)

Class H … Gentleman's Sports Cars

84. Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 (1947)
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Ghia
Entrant: Roberto Donati (I)

86. Bentley R Type (1953)
Drophead Coupé
Coachwork: H.J. Mulliner
Entrant: Dean Kronsbein (D)

88. Bentley S1 Continental (1957)
Drophead Coupé
Coachwork: Park Ward
Entrant: Paolo Bianchi (I)

90. Bentley S1 Continental (1958)
Coupé Fastback
Coachwork: H.J. Mulliner
Entrant: Sir Anthony Bamford (UK)

92. Alvis TD 21 2nd Series (1962)
Coupé
Coachwork: Graber
Entrant: John Alston (UK)

Class I … Heroes of Le Mans

94. Jaguar D Type (1956)
Open Two Seater
Coachwork: Jaguar
Entrant: Max Lustenberger (CH)

96. Aston Martin DBR1 (1959)
Open Two Seater
Coachwork: Aston Martin
Entrant: Adrian Beecroft (UK)

98. Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) s/n 3943GT
Coupé
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Entrant: Charles Nearburg (USA)

100. Ferrari 250 LM (1964) s/n 6119
Coupé
Coachwork: Pininfarina
Entrant: Anonymous

102. Ford GT 40 Mk3 (1968)
Coupé
Coachwork: Ford
Entrant: Gary W. Bartlett (USA)

104. Porsche 917/K (1969) s/n 917-013
Coupé
Coachwork: Porsche
Entrant: Mark Finburgh (UK)

Concept Cars & Prototypes

C02. Pininfarina Cambiano (2012)
Eco-Friendly Luxury Sedan
Engine: Electric

C04. Alfa Romeo 4C (2011)
Coupé
Engine: 4 Cyl. / 1750
Entrant: Mario Tencone (I)

C06. Stile Bertone Jaguar B99 (2011)
4 Door Sedan
Engine: -
Entrant: Marco Filippa (I)

C08. Rinspeed Dock+Go (2012)
2 Seater City Car
Engine: Electric
Entrant: Hans Roth (CH)

C10. Ford Motor Company Ford EVOS Concept (2011)
4 Door Sedan
Engine: 4 Cyl. / 1600
Entrant: Martin Smith (D)

C12. Italdesign Giugiaro Brivido (2012)
Gran Turismo
Engine: 6 Cyl. / 3000 / Hybrid
Entrant: Fabrizio Giugiaro (I)

C14. Toyota Motor Corp. Lexus LF-LC (2012)
2+2 Sport Coupé
Engine: Hybrid
Entrant: Kevin Hunter (B)

C16. Rimac Automobili Concept_One (2011)
Coupé
Engine: Electric
Entrant: Mate Rimac (HR)