Concorso
D'Eleganza Villa D'Este 2011, Cernobbio, Italy
Cernobbio - The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is the world’s most
tradition-laden beauty contest for automobiles. The weekend
from April 20-22, 2011 just gone the town of Cernobbio on
the banks of Lake Como reprised its status as the centre of
attention for all car enthusiasts – and this year motorcycle
fans also had much to admire. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa
d’Este brought together a selection of classic models and
new concept cars to the acclaim of the assembled audience.
Karl Baumer, President
of the Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este and
Director of BMW Group Classic
“The concept cars
at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este represent a rare
opportunity to see these prototypes in close proximity, outside
the context of the dazzle of the international motor exhibition
circuit, a chance to examine their details, features and form in
the natural light close up in the reality of the outside world”,
said the President of the Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este and
Director of BMW Group Classic, Karl Baumer at the press
conference of the Concorso in Milan.
The Concepts &
Protypes 2011
The following vehicles are
starting in this year’s competition:
Ferrari Super America 45 (2011) Convertible, V12, 5999 ccm
A recent and fascinating trend in
the rarefied world of top end Ferrari collectors is the
commissioning of one off bespoke version of high end models from
Italian coach builders. Several ‘special clients’ have
approached Ferrari in recent years to build uniquely styled
cars, an idea that goes back to the fifties went customers like
film director Roberto Rossellini had a special car built for his
wife, Ingrid Bergman. The Villa d Este is the natural setting
for the exposure of such special vehicles and as well as the
Glickenhaus P4/5 this year we have this very special Ferrari
Super America belong to the New York.
Audi Quattro Concept (2010)
Fastback Coupé, 5 cilindri, 2500
ccm
So up-beat was the Quattro
Concepts reception at the Paris Motor Show last year that it
seems highly likely a version of the car will eventually see
production. It’s tough, compact look is inspired by the short
wheelbase Quattro Sport of the eighties and indeed the car was
built to celebrate 30 years of the ground breaking four wheel
drive Audi Coupe. Styled by Wolfgang Egger it is a fully
functioning prototype based on an RS5 chassis but shorter by
150mm to give more agility and that chunky presence on its
massive 20 inch wheels. It features light alloy and carbon fibre
to save weight and in fact it weighs almost exactly same as the
Quattro sport homologation special of the eighties.
This concept takes its name from
the traditional gun carrying cars used by the landed gentry for
sporting pursuits but it is much more than just another estate
car. With its powerful wheel arches – home to 20 inch wheels –
and AMG style front grille it is essentially a variation on
Mercedes successful CLS coupe/saloon theme, the squat roof
extended into a load carrier with a fifth door. Strictly a four
seater the shooting break has a modern take on traditional wood
and leather treatments inside and is powered by a 306bhp 3.5
litre V6 petrol unit that is said to set new standards of
economy in its class.
Introduced at Geneva this year the
Etherea is a five door hatch back that manages to look like a 4
door coupe. With its futuristic and spacious cabin and
aggressive stance this 245bhp hybrid drive cross-over is aimed
at younger buyers than Infiniti’s traditional demographic. One
of its most pleasing features, giving an aura of cool
spaciousness, are the ‘clamshell’ doors; in other words the rear
doors are hinged on the rearmost pillar and open to reveal open
plan access to the cabin – there is no centre pillar, a feature
of many classic sedans of the 20s to the 50s.
Italdesign Giugiaro Go! (2011)
Coupé, Electric
Ital Design/Giugiaro has a
relationship with VW going back to the early seventies when it
designed the bodywork for the firms first generation of water
cooled models, the Passat, Polo and – most importantly – the
first Golf. Now that the famous Italian styling house had been
integrated into the VW group it was only natural that some
exciting VW show cars would emerge. The GO! - shown alongside
the sporty Tex at Geneva this year – is the latest ideas in the
realm of the MPV, a genre Giugiaro virtually invented in the
seventies with the Megagamma and the 1976 New York Taxi concept.
Go! Is fully electric powered with battery packs under the seats
offers large MPV space within a Passat sized wheelbase plus
large glass areas and a full sized boot while retaining a
resemblance to the rest of the VW family.
Rinspeed BamBoo (2011)
Open, Electric
This extraordinary beach vehicle
concept, powered by a 54kw electric motor, is designed to evoke
memories of classic sixties and seventies fun cars like the
Citroen Mehari and Fiat Jolly that one might have seen at St
Tropez or other Riviera destinations. It can be open topped or,
if it rains, there’s a typical canopy. Designed in Switzerland
and seen for the first time this year at Geneva its maker
describes it as a ‘grown up golf cart’ with Bamboo elements to
its interior and a dashboard that can display Face book pages.
Renault DeZir (2010)
Coupé, Electric
This dramatic electric powered
coupe is one of the spearheads of Renault’s new more emotional
design language under Laurens Van der Acker and is also a teaser
for the brands future front end styling identity. It sets out to
prove that electric powered cars don’t have to be earnest and
boring with an exciting sculptural shape in Kevlar over a
lightweight frame and an ethereal interior that features that
now rarely seen item – the bench seat! Behind it sits the cars
motor a batteries which give a 100 mile range.
This one-off was built by
Pininfarina as a personal project for the American film director
James Glickenhaus. Based around the last unsold Ferrari Enzo it
has been re-bodied in the style one of Ferraris 1960s P Series
sports racing cars but with a futuristic feel that avoids retro
clichés. The $4 million dollar project was revealed at Pebble
Beach in 2006 and shown again at the Paris show that year. The
seats were created around the dimensions of the owner and his
son; his daughter chose the seat material. With 6 litres, 660bhp
this 233mph vehicle was designed to be easier to use and service
than the standard Enzo.
Hors Concours: MINI Rocketman and
Rolls-Royce 102 EX
Traditionally the BMW Group takes
part in the competition for prototypes and concept cars “hors
concours“, i.e. they will not be evaluated by the jury. This
year two of the stars from the Geneva Auto-Salon will be shown
on the Villa d’Este catwalk – the MINI Rocketman and the
Rolls-Royce 102 EX.
The MINI Rocketman Concept
combines traditional values with innovative technology to
redefine the creative use of space which is a fundamental
principle of the brand. As a 3+1 seater featuring a unique space
concept, 3 doors and an exterior length of just over 3 metres,
the highly regarded study points the way to the future in terms
of individual driving fun in urban conurbations.
Rolls-Royce produces cars that
represent the pinnacle in luxurious motoring for the world’s
most discerning customers. However, the company also recognises
the need to look to the future and to plan for long-term
sustainable growth.
An investigation into alternative
drive-train options is an important step in that process. With
102EX, also to be known as the Phantom Experimental Electric
(EE), it is the company’s intention to carefully test the
opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a
range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of
the public and the media.
