BMW and Pininfarina have teamed up to build what is being called the Gran Lusso Coupe, which will make its public debut at the 2013 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 24, 2013.
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BMW unveiled its one-off Zagato Coupe at the Concorso d’Eleganza, and now the German automaker has released several videos spotlighting the bespoke model.
The 2012 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is playing host to the world premiere of the BMW Zagato Coupe, a stunning creation built by BMW and Milanese coachbuilder Zagato.
Aston Martin has officially confirmed the American debut of the One-77 and V12 Zagato, which will take place during the Pebble Beach automotive week in Monterey from August 17th to the 21st. The British automaker will commence the celebration on the evening of Wednesday August 17 where the V12 Zagato will have its official American debut.
The V12 Zagato was first unveiled as a concept car at the famous Villa D’Este Concours in Italy earlier this year, where the car experienced tremendous success among the show goers, and won the award for Design in the Concepts and Prototypes class. Aston Martin will build the V12 Zagato in a very limited production which will commence in the summer of 2012.
As for the One-77, it was on display in the Monterey area several years ago, but as a concept. Now the flagship Aston Martin will get a more official unveiling, boasting a 7.3-liter V12 engine with over 700-hp.
Julian Jenkins, Vice President Aston Martin the Americas said, ”We are very excited about the program this year including the debut of the V12 Zagato, and we look forward to welcoming current owners, new customers and automotive enthusiasts to share our celebrations at The Aston Martin Estate.”
AutoGuide will be on hand, so look for live pictures and video late next week.
GALLERY: Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Aston Martin is preparing two V12 Zagato Concept vehicles for the 24-hour Nurburgring race this weekend.
The Zegato Concept was designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato. The Zagato concept made it’s first appearance at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este in May and won the Design for Concepts and Prototypes.
The number 3 race car will be driven in the 24 hour race by Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, the company’s Nürburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and automotive journalists Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.
The number 5 race car will be driven by One-77 Chief Engineer Chris Porritt, sports car driver Oliver Mathai, automotive journalist Richard Meaden and amateur racer Peter Cate.
Unfortunately, the V12 Zagato will have a very limited production run with the next year, so very few people will get to climb behind the wheel. However, viewers can catch the the Zagato V12 in action this weekend!
Gallery: Aston Martin Zagato V12
The one off Ferrari Superamerica 45 made its world debut at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza this week. The Ferrari was built for Peter Kalikow, former owner of the New York Post and former chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The 45 symbolizes Kalikow’s 45th year as a Ferrari customer.
The Superamerica 45 utilizes a 670-hp engine from the 599 GTO, and can achieve 0-60mph in around 3.3 seconds. Also employed is a nifty folding roof mechanism that can’t be accurately described in words. Luckily we have a video below to show you just how it operates, as well as some pretty cool driving footage.
Check out the video after the jump!
[Source: egm Car Tech]
A beautiful fire truck red Aston Martin V12 Zagato made an appearance at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. This gorgeous piece of British engineering revs for just under a minute sounding unbelievabe. The Zagato features a 6.0-liter V12 producing 510-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. No wonder it sounds so great.
Check out the video after the jump!
[Source: egm Car Tech]
This very special 1957 four-cylinder Ferrari 500 is one of the latest additions to the RM Auctions docket at the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este where the car is expected to fetch between $3.5 to $4.5 million.
This Ferrari 500 TRC (Testa Rossa Type-C) Spider was the first Ferrari to bear the Testa Rossa name for its red valve covers. Only 19 TRC’s were built and this particular example – chassis number 0670 MDTR – was the sixth vehicle made. These TRC Ferraris, are more rare than the more powerful 12-cylinder 250 TR as well as the infamous 250 GTO which are notorious for selling into the multi millions.
Audi has entered the Audi Quattro concept in the Concept Cars and Prototypes category at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The event is being held at Lake Como from May 20-22,2011 and the concepts will be showcased beside historic vehicles from around the globe. The Quattro Concept features a 408-hp five cylinder turbocharged engine, a lightweight body and the latest in Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive.
“The Audi Quattro concept reinterprets the sports car in which Audi introduced all-wheel drive more than 30 years ago. It combines an homage to our history with groundbreaking design, making the Quattro concept the perfect car for the Concorso d’Eleganza. For more than 80 years, this competition has celebrated not just the history of the automobile, but also its future,” says Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the Audi Group. Egger is also the person responsible for the design of the Audi Quattro concept.
54 classic vehicles will be competing in eight vehicle classes. The cars will be judged by a five-member panel based on the design, state of preservation and originality.
GALLERY: Audi Quattro Concept
Aston Martin and Zagato have quite a history together. They first collaborated back in 1961, which resulted in the highly desirable DB4GT Zagato. Only 25 of these were ever made.
The two companies came together once again in 1986, which resulted in the V8 Vantage Zagato, later followed by the V8 Volante Zagato. Both these cars were built in very limited numbers (52 coupes and 37 convertibles) and are hence continually appreciating.
Most recently, Aston Martin and Zagato did two versions of the DB7, a Zagato coupe and the DB AR1 roadster. Both cars were made in a limited number of just 99-units, the latter was solely marketed to the sunny Florida and California markets. Every single example of these limited edition cars have found homes and still have collectors chasing after them.
Now Aston Martin wants to repeat the successes of this partnership once again, and what better occasion than on the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato.
Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: “The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world’s most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration.”
“Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time.”
The new model, the name for which has not been released yet, will be unveiled on May 21st, at the Villa d’Este concours event, which is held annually at Lake Como in Italy.
Ever wondered what the Chevrolet Corvair might have looked like if the Italian’s had designed it? The answer would have looked like the Testudo concept.
Designed by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone, the car was first revealed at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show. Its styling shows that many car companies took notice and incorporated some of its design language into their future models.
The Testudo – Italian for turtle, was based on the humble underpinnings of the Corvair Monza, so while it may look like it is doing 200 mph standing still, in reality, its 2.4-liter air-cooled, flat-six only developed 81-hp. So speed was not its forte, but it can probably handle quite well thanks to its fully independent suspension setup that featured telescopic dampers and anti-roll bars.
This one-off prototype is fully functional. Giugiaro once even used the car to pick up his wife, Maria Teresa, from Fiat, where she worked in their design studio. He recounts being swarmed by the employees, most of whom missed their trains home because they were admiring the car.
The Testudo however was badly damaged while filming a promotional film for Shell, and resulted in the car just sitting in Bertone’s warehouse for decades. The car was thankfully restored in the ’90s when designer Luciano d’Ambrosio joined the firm. The car made its first public appearance in 30-years when it showed up at the 1996 Pebble Beach Concours event.
The car is now on sale and will be presented by RM Auctions at the Villa d’Este Concours event on May 21. It is predicted to pull in about $1-million. We will have to wait until the event to find out what it finally changed hands for.
[Source: RM Auctions]
The annual show held at Villa d’Este, the Concorso d’Eleganza is a renowned showcase for some of the most spectacular classic cars. The grounds hosting the Concorso d’Eleganza (sponsored by BMW this year)mixes the finest concepts of the year with the most elegant classics of the last century.
This year, the show will feature an auction for the first time, while Ferrari will be showcasing a new lakeside exhibit alongside the new Audi Quattro Concept. The Infiniti Etherea, the Rinspeed Bamboo and James Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Comptezione will be exhibiting as well. The Super America 45 received its name from the Ferrari back catalog with models based on the 400, the 410 and most recently the new 575M. Supposedly, the one off Ferrari 45, is to be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano and was commissioned by a New York collector. Maranello’s custom orders department will build the car fitted with unique sheetmetal from Pininfarina. It has been suggested that the Super America 45 may receive a six cylinder engine. The last production Ferrari V6 was used 37 years ago in the Dino 246. Regardless of what engine is chosen to power the car, it will be sure to dazzle the crowd. The show will be held May 20-22 so be sure to follow up for the latest news!
[Source: Autoblog]
Once raced by John Whitmore and Bob Bondurant in the 1965 Targa Florio; this Linden Green 1965 Ford GT40 roadster, one of just five ever built, was thought to have been lost forever.
In 2006, the car, chassis GT/111 re-surfaced once again and was restored the following year. Since then it has made various appearances at vintage racing events around the world, including the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Now it’s about to go under the hammer, being auctioned off at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which takes place in Cernobbio, Italy on May 21. How much the car will fetch is anybody’s guess, though interested parties should make sure they have deep pockets – closed GT40s with pedigree regularly sell for more than $1.5 million, so you can bet this one will likely fetch considerably more.
[Source: Autoblog]
One of Zagato’s most beautiful concepts in recent memory, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, has been confirmed to be set for production—and it will ride on a Dodge Viper chassis, as well as its v10 engine.
The Corsa owes its production to the strange bedfellows between Alfa Romeo and Dodge, both a part of the Fiat/Chrysler conglomerate. As such, Dodge will lend the Viper chassis as well as a massaged 8.4-liter V10 that will deliver over 600 horsepower. Italian-American fusion hasn’t come together so well since the Chrysler TC by Maserati, or Olive Garden.
The TZ3 was unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este about a year ago, as a continuation of Zagato’s equally-collectible TZ1 and TZ2 specials. The TZ3 was originally a one-off for a wealthy customer, but why should he have all the fun? Zagato will churn out a limited-production run in street-ready Stradale trim, presumably for other wealthy customers to whom we can grovel for a ride.
[Source: Autoblog]
Aston Martin One-77 Wins Prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award at Villa d’Este
First completed vehicle makes debut at world-renowned concours in Italy
Aston Martin unveiled a completed version of its One-77 supercar at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este over the weekend and those lucky enough to be there were not disappointed. The car was entered into the design contest for concept cars and prototypes and it easily took the top prize, the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award, with more than 30 percent of the total votes.
“Embodying everything Aston Martin stands for; the One-77 has proven itself as the most desirable automotive art form at its premiere today,” said Aston CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. “We have achieved a new level of design and craftsmanship which has been clearly recognised by the public here in the homeland of design at Villa d’Este.”
Aston’s Design Director, Marek Reichman was equally enthusiastic, proclaiming that, “To win this award at its first showing is a testament to the Aston Martin team and the original concept. Winning here today has proven One-77 as a benchmark in automotive design.”
As this was the first time the One-77 was show in full, it also marked the first time the hand-crafted interior had been seen by anyone outside the company.
GALLERY: Aston Martin One-77
Official release after the jump: