Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe - rear three-quarter rendering

BMW and Pininfarina are planning to debut a new concept at the 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The Gran Lusso Coupé is designed to be the next logical step forward from the Zagato Coupé, and the one-off creation boasts plenty of BMW earmarks to set the car off as a true member of the German automaker's family. With a long wheel base and a stretched nose, the two door can't help but channel the long-dead BMW 8 Series, and the potent V12 under the hood only reinforces the link.

BMW has been kind enough to slip the world a few teasers, and the images show what looks like it could be the low-slung grand tourer of our dreams. Check out the full press release below for more information, and stay tuned for the full unveiling.

Continue reading BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept echoes 8 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw gran lusso coupebmw pininfarina gran lusso coupegran lusso coupepininfarinavilla destevilla deste 2013Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566720/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/14/bmw-pininfarina-gran-lusso-coupe-concept-echoes-8-series/20566720/article-detail.xml 20566720 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gran-lusso-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/gran-lusso-628.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #284]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/autoblog-podcast-284/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/autoblog-podcast-284/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/autoblog-podcast-284/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Fiat and Mazda teaming up, Consumer Reports eco-trim test, Aston Martin AM310, BMW Zagato Coupe, Dany Bahar suspended

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Episode #284 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Chris, Dan and Zach chat about Mazda and Fiat collaborating on the next MX-5 Miata and Spyder, Consumer Reports' test of eco-trim compacts, the Aston Martin AM310 and BMW Zagato Coupe that debuted at Villa d'Este, and the suspension of Dany Bahar from Lotus over alleged misconduct. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #284:



Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2012 Volvo XC70 T6 Polestar
2012 Nissan Quest
2013 Acura RDX


Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Runtime: 01:16:07
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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #284

Autoblog Podcast #284 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfa romeo spyderaston martin am310autoblog podcastautoblog podcast 284bmw zagato coupedany bahardany bahar suspendedfeaturedmazda alfamazda alfa romeomazda fiatmiatamx-5 miatanissan questpolestarquestrdxvilla destevolvo xc70xc70z4Wed, 30 May 2012 17:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #284Autoblog01:16:07 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20247972/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/30/autoblog-podcast-284/20247972/article-detail.xml 20247972 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/alfa-romeo-takes-top-honors-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/alfa-romeo-takes-top-honors-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/alfa-romeo-takes-top-honors-at-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS at Villa d'Este 2012

BMW may be the sponsor of this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, but it was Alfa Romeo that cleaned up when the awards were handed out over the weekend. Top honors went to a pristine 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS with coachwork by Figoni. The Series XI coupe that could easily be mistaken for a Bugatti of the same era was initially shown at the Paris Auto Salon in 1933 and has gone on to appear at numerous concours around the world. At Villa d'Este, it won not only the Best of Show awards - both those selected by the jury and voted on by the public - but also the prestigious Coppa d'Oro (Gold Cup).

The classic 6C wasn't the only Alfa to take top honors on Italy's Lake Como, however, as the 4C concept - first shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and again at the Frankfurt Motor Show that year - won in the concept car category. The public voted it the finest prototype displayed at the concours this year, overshadowing the Aston Martin AM 310 concept and BMW's own Zagato Coupe, both of which were new debuts at the lakeside exposition. Check out the high-resolution images from the show in the gallery above and the pair of press releases below.

Continue reading Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este

Alfa Romeo takes top honors at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1933 alfa romeo 6c 1750 gs4calfaalfa 4calfa romeoalfa romeo 4calfa romeo 6calfa romeo 6c 1750 gsconcorso deleganza villa destevilla desteTue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20246523/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/29/alfa-romeo-takes-top-honors-at-villa-deste/20246523/article-detail.xml 20246523 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/webalfa-villadeste_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/webalfa-villadeste.jpg <![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #284 LIVE]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-284-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-284-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-284-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Autoblog Podcast graphic

We record Episode #284 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, meaning you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below and chime in to direct our conversation. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #284
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #284 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin am310autoblogautoblog podcast liveautoblog podcast topicsconsumer reportsdany baharfiat mazdafiat roadsterlotus dany baharmazda mx-5 miatamazda roadstermiatamx-5podcastvilla desteTue, 29 May 2012 16:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20247018/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/29/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-284-live/20247018/article-detail.xml 20247018 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[BMW Zagato Coupe clears its throat for the crowds at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/bmw-zagato-coupe-clears-its-throat-for-the-crowds-at-villa-dest/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/bmw-zagato-coupe-clears-its-throat-for-the-crowds-at-villa-dest/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/bmw-zagato-coupe-clears-its-throat-for-the-crowds-at-villa-dest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

BMW Zagato Coupe

Goodbye Bangle, hello Zagato. While the BMW design ethos may be best known for the aggressive flame-surfacing language, it took a decidedly different approach at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este this weekend when it unveiled the Zagato Coupé concept.

Deduced to be based on the current Z4, the Zagato Coupé was coachbuilt by the famed Milanese design studio into the swoopy Kamm-tailed prototype you see here. Word on the Italian lakeshore is that, along with the new shape, BMW has also increased the coupe's output to 400 horsepower - presumably from the 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight six that produces 340 horsepower in the top-of-the-line Z4 sDrive35is.

But don't take our word for it - watch the video below to listen to the fully functional concept car kick over as Andrea Zagato drives his latest creation from the lawn across the judging booth at Villa d'Este.

Continue reading BMW Zagato Coupe clears its throat for the crowds at Villa d'Este

BMW Zagato Coupe clears its throat for the crowds at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw z4bmw zagato coupébmw zagato coupeconcorso deleganza villa destevideovilla destez4zagatoTue, 29 May 2012 15:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20246522/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/29/bmw-zagato-coupe-clears-its-throat-for-the-crowds-at-villa-dest/20246522/article-detail.xml 20246522 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/zagato-bmw-vidcap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/zagato-bmw-vidcap.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin unveils AM 310 concept at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/aston-martin-unveils-am-310-concept-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/aston-martin-unveils-am-310-concept-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/aston-martin-unveils-am-310-concept-at-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aston Martin AM 310 Concept

Design language is a tricky thing. Err too much on one side and nobody will recognize your cars. Fall on the other and all your cars will look the same. Aston Martin, you might say, emerges more on the latter side than the former. Which isn't to say that we don't like how their high-end GTs look, mind you. But if any company is in need of a design shakeup, you could argue that it's Aston.

That's at least a little bit of what the British automaker shot for this weekend at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the glamorous open-air auto show on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. There it presented the AM 310, a concept that ostensibly previews the replacement for the DB9 and DBS.

Said to be based on the same VH architecture that underpins the company's entire lineup (save the One-77, which has reportedly finished its production run anyway), the AM 310 packs a revised version of the same 6.0-liter V12 that was first developed for the DB7. It's packed into a shape that is distinctly Aston Martin, only in an updated form.

Gaydon has yet to release any official photos or press release on the new concept, so while you wait for them, you'll want to check out the videos below for a closer look - if only for the otherworldly sound the engine makes.

Continue reading Aston Martin unveils AM 310 concept at Villa d'Este

Aston Martin unveils AM 310 concept at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>310am 310am 310 conceptastonaston martinaston martin 310concorso deleganza villa destevideovilla desteTue, 29 May 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20246430/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/29/aston-martin-unveils-am-310-concept-at-villa-deste/20246430/article-detail.xml 20246430 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/am310-vidcap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/am310-vidcap.jpg <![CDATA[BMW reveals stunning Zagato Coupe at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/bmw-reveals-stunning-zagato-coupe-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/bmw-reveals-stunning-zagato-coupe-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/bmw-reveals-stunning-zagato-coupe-at-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

BMW Zagato Coupe

It could be said that no auto show is as glamorous as the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Held on the picturesque shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, the annual concours is sponsored by BMW. So it only stands to reason that the Bavarian automaker wouldn't let the show come and go without making a splash on its own.

Previous years saw BMW roll into Cernobbio with such show-stopping concepts as the M1 Hommage and the 328 Hommage, but this year it's not looking back on its history to draw its inspiration. Instead it's teamed up with celebrated Italian coachbuilder Zagato to dream up the concept you see here.

A rare instance of Munich reaching beyond its own design department, the BMW Zagato Coupé is a one-off concept, but is far from a fragile show car. The shape is aerodynamically optimized and the car is fully road registered in Germany, and has already undergone high-speed testing at BMW's own test facility. The Bavarian automaker remains tight-lipped on its underpinnings and running gear, but the obvious conclusion - whether ultimately correct or not - is that it's based on the Z4 roadster.

Whatever lies beneath the hand-crafted aluminum shape, however, is of less consequence than its design. Reinvigorating a tradition of collaboration that goes back to the 1959 BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale through to the Giugiaro-designed M1 of 1978, the Zagato Coupé concept aptly embodies design cues attributable to both BMW and Zagato - from the twin-kidney grille (whose mesh is made up of little Zs), over the double-bubble roof (a hallmark of Zagato styling originally intended to accommodate a racing helmet in early designs) to the Kamm tail that BMW and Zagato both claim as common heritage.

The greenhouse is set way back and the hood is longer than it took us to put together the immense gallery of high-resolution images BMW has released of the show-stopping concept, which you'll want to check out in detail along with the full press release below.

Continue reading BMW reveals stunning Zagato Coupe at Villa d'Este

BMW reveals stunning Zagato Coupe at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw zagatobmw zagato coupébmw zagato coupecernobbioconcorso deleganzaconcorso deleganza villa destevilla destez4zagatozagato coupézagato coupeFri, 25 May 2012 14:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20245501/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/25/bmw-reveals-stunning-zagato-coupe-at-villa-deste/20245501/article-detail.xml 20245501 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmw-zagato-coupe_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmw-zagato-coupe.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin DBS/DB9 successor caught at the Ring preparing for Villa d'Este debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aston Martin DB9/DBS successor at the Nurburgring

As much as it pains us to say it, the current core range from Aston Martin has grown a little stale. But fret not: a new model is just around the corner.

Snapped undergoing testing at the Nürburgring in this latest batch of spy shots is what looks to be a new and nearly complete V12 GT from Gaydon. Code-named AM 310, it could be a successor to either the DB9 or DBS - or could carry a different nameplate altogether and replace them both.

While the engine and platform carry over as modified versions of the existing building blocks, sources anticipate just about everything else in the new sportscar will be new. The bodywork - styled as something of a blend between the current DBS and the top-of-the-line One-77 - is tipped to be made up almost entirely of aluminum and carbon fiber, reducing the weight for the 6.0-liter V12 engine - anticipated to come with a 55-horse boost over the current DBS for a solid 565 horsepower. That ought to be sufficient to propel the rakish coupe to highway speeds in under four seconds.

An even lighter version clothed entirely in carbon fiber is also said to be in the works, but we may not have to wait that long, as the AM 310 may debut as soon as this weekend at the prestigious and glamorous Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

Aston Martin DBS/DB9 successor caught at the Ring preparing for Villa d'Este debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>310am 310astonaston martinaston martin 310aston martin db9aston martin dbsconcorso deleganza villa destedb9dbsnürburgringnurburgringspyspy shotsvilla desteThu, 24 May 2012 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20244293/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/20244293/article-detail.xml 20244293 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/astondbsspyweb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/astondbsspyweb.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin V12 Zagato heads from Villa d'Este to the race track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/aston-martin-v12-zagato-heads-from-villa-deste-to-the-race-trac/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/aston-martin-v12-zagato-heads-from-villa-deste-to-the-race-trac/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/aston-martin-v12-zagato-heads-from-villa-deste-to-the-race-trac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Aston Martin V12 Zagato - Click above for high-res image gallery

Some concepts debut at an auto show and are never heard from again. Some make the rounds of minor local car shows. A small number make it into production. But it's full speed ahead for the Aston Martin V12 Zagato.

The collaborative effort between Aston Martin and Zagato was unveiled at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original DB4GT Zagato. A stunning creation, the show car handily won the award for concepts at the Italian lakeside concours. The next step? Racing.

Right from the start, Aston announced that the V12 Zagato would be hitting the race track in no less rigorous a test than Germany's Nürburgring. And so it will, starting this weekend and returning in tandem next month for a second outing. But before it does, Aston's released these images of the car.

The car that debuted in Villa d'Este ditched the diamond-finish wheels from the advance pictures for blacked-out ones, but it has kept the front splitter, full roll cage and sliding plastic driver's-side window. The image above shows an even larger splitter, along with a giant rear wing. Otherwise, the racecar looks essentially the same as the coupe that won the Concorso D'Eleganza Design Award at Villa d'Este, but it'll likely feature a full competition livery when it makes its race debut this weekend. Check out the updated image gallery and the award announcement after the jump.

Continue reading Aston Martin V12 Zagato heads from Villa d'Este to the race track

Aston Martin V12 Zagato heads from Villa d'Este to the race track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin v12 zagatoconcorso deleganza villa destenürburgringnurburgringv12 zagatovilla destezagatoWed, 25 May 2011 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19949778/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/aston-martin-v12-zagato-heads-from-villa-deste-to-the-race-trac/19949778/article-detail.xml 19949778 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web-aston-zagato-race-teaser_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web-aston-zagato-race-teaser.jpg <![CDATA[Rare classics sell for millions at Villa d'Este auction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe - chassis #90112
1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS - Click above for high-res image gallery

This past weekend, the Concorso d'Eleganza returned to Villa d'Este, revealing such splendid one-offs as the Ferrari Superamerica 45, Aston Martin V12 Zagato and BMW 328 Tribute. But at the same time RM Auctions was holding its first event at Cernobbio, selling a cadre of historically important automobiles we've been following for months, many of which went for multi-million-dollar figures.

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster PrototypeAmong the top sellers were the art-deco 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS (pictured above) which sold for nearly $4.5 million, the rare four-cylinder Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa (sold for just under $4 million), the 1965 Ford GT40 roadster prototype (pictured at right) and the 1947 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante (each of which went for just under $3 million apiece). The top of the list also included a trio of Ferrari classics from the 50s: a 1955 375 MM topped the list at $4.8M, a '59 250 California at $3.6M and a '53 250 MM at $3M.

Two of the Bertone prototypes that sold broke the million-dollar mark as well - the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal at $2.1 million and the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero at $1 million - while the 60s-era Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos sold for around $900k and $370k each. All told, some $32 million worth of classics exchanged hands at the event, the full breakdown of which you can find at this link along with more galleries after the jump.

Continue reading Rare classics sell for millions at Villa d'Este auction

Rare classics sell for millions at Villa d'Este auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concorso deleganza villa destermrm auctionsvilla desteTue, 24 May 2011 08:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19947267/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/24/rare-classics-sell-for-millions-at-villa-deste-auction/19947267/article-detail.xml 19947267 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-talbot-villadeste_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-talbot-villadeste.jpg <![CDATA[BMW Group design boss van Hooydonk talks 328 Hommage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/bmw-group-design-boss-von-hooydonk-talks-328-hommage-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/bmw-group-design-boss-von-hooydonk-talks-328-hommage-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/bmw-group-design-boss-von-hooydonk-talks-328-hommage-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

BMW 328 Hommage Concept
BMW 328 Hommage concept with Adrian von Hooydonk - Click above to watch the video after the break

While at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este (yeah, we're roughing it here) we grabbed BMW Group chief of design Adrian van Hooydonk for an interview about his team's latest two-person open-top concept car, the 328 Hommage.

The 328 Hommage marks 75 years since the launch of the gorgeous 1930s icon, the 328, and carries on the tradition of that car in its lightness. While the 328 six-cylinder was underpowered on paper in its day, it kicked butt on the race circuit due to its very light weight and superior dynamics.

The 328 Hommage frankly looks more like an homage to the 1950s sex-tastic 507, but at least the concept gets the open sides, leather straps, and wingnut wheels fairly correct. And we like that the tall kidneys on the grille make a modern return.

Van Hooydonk admits that the 328 Hommage isn't proportionally much like the 328 of old, but, he says, "Any sports car today needs to be wider and lower anyway." We, however, harken back to the 2006 Mille Miglia coupe concept, which simply blew one and all away. That car also went directly from its public unveiling into the BMW museum in Munich, never to be seriously driven.

Click through to the jump to continue reading and to watch the video.

Continue reading BMW Group design boss van Hooydonk talks 328 Hommage

BMW Group design boss van Hooydonk talks 328 Hommage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>328328 hommagebmwbmw 328 hommagevilla desteVilla dEste 2011Mon, 23 May 2011 19:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19946753/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/23/bmw-group-design-boss-von-hooydonk-talks-328-hommage-w-video/19946753/article-detail.xml 19946753 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/bmw-328-hommage-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/bmw-328-hommage-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin unwraps new V12 Zagato en route to Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/20/aston-martin-unwraps-new-v12-zagato-en-route-to-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/20/aston-martin-unwraps-new-v12-zagato-en-route-to-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/20/aston-martin-unwraps-new-v12-zagato-en-route-to-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Aston Martin V12 Zagato - Click above for high-res image gallery

Feast, children. Feast your eyes on the new Aston Martin V12 Zagato. The product of a reborn partnership between the British sportscar-maker and the Milanese design house that goes back fifty years, the V12 Zagato has just been revealed on its way to the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. And man, does it look the business.

Aston Martin V12 ZagatoJust over a week ago we brought you initial news of the collaboration in the making, retracing half a century of collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato with a new project based on the V12 Vantage. Now fully revealed, the design blends some familiar queues with fresh lines. Zagato's signature double-bubble roof (initially adopted to offer extra headroom for a racer's helmet) is there, while the grille recalls that of the classic DB4 GT from which this car draws its inspiration. The flank recalls the taut muscularity of the Vanquish, punctuated by a large vent from which protrude a silver dash and the Zagato logo. The tail-light treatment is similar to that of the Ferrari FF's, sitting above a large rear diffuser assembly.

All in all it cuts a striking profile rendered in aluminum, jointly penned by Zagato and Aston's own design department. Its deep shade of orange (similar to the Lamborghini Aventador show car) compliments the baby blue of the V12 Vantage RS concept that previewed the car on which it's based to recall the iconic Gulf livery which the marque revived in its racing program.

The show car you see here represents something of a mid-point between the race and road variants that will ensue, packing, for example, street-spec rolling stock but a stripped-out race cockpit. The concept's engine is unchanged from the V12 Vantage road car - Aston says it is gauging public reaction before announcing production plans, but something tells us they've already decided. A full-on racing version is set to take on the Nürburgring 24, but whether this will form the new GT3-spec V12 Vantage announced a month ago remains to be seen. Follow the jump for the full press blast and be sure to check out the images in our high-resolution gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading Aston Martin unwraps new V12 Zagato en route to Villa d'Este

Aston Martin unwraps new V12 Zagato en route to Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin v12 zagatobreakingconcorso deleganza villa destev12 zagatovilla destezagatoFri, 20 May 2011 05:37:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19945628/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/20/aston-martin-unwraps-new-v12-zagato-en-route-to-villa-deste/19945628/article-detail.xml 19945628 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web01-aston-v12zagato_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web01-aston-v12zagato.jpg <![CDATA[Ferrari Superamerica 45 unveiled ahead of Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/ferrari-superamerica-45-unveiled-ahead-of-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/ferrari-superamerica-45-unveiled-ahead-of-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/ferrari-superamerica-45-unveiled-ahead-of-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ferrari Superamerica 45
Ferrari Superamerica 45 - Click above for high-res image gallery

During this weekend's Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza, Ferrari will debut its special one-off Superamerica 45, a vehicle built exclusively for collector Peter Kalikow. Hello, gorgeous.

The Superamerica was designed, engineered and built in-house, and the car incorporates things like a carbon fiber rotating hardtop, as well as a completely redesigned boot in order to house the roof while it's removed. This appears to be similar to the mechanism used on the Ferrari 575-based Superamerica, as well as the (significantly cheaper) Renault Wind. Body-colored rear buttresses mold into the wide wheel arches. Other unique touches include brushed aluminum A-pillars, wing mirrors and a chrome front grille.

This special Superamerica 45 is painted in Blu Antille, which is designed to match the 1961 400 Superamerica cabriolet that Kalikow has in his collection. The 45's wheels are body-colored with a contrasting diamond finish, and a darker blue is used on the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser.

We're sure Mr. Kalikow will be thrilled. Follow the jump for Ferrari's official press release.

Continue reading Ferrari Superamerica 45 unveiled ahead of Villa d'Este

Ferrari Superamerica 45 unveiled ahead of Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 May 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concorso deleganza villa desteferrarisuperamericasuperamerica 45villa desteThu, 19 May 2011 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19944817/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/19/ferrari-superamerica-45-unveiled-ahead-of-villa-deste/19944817/article-detail.xml 19944817 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/01-ferrari-superamerica-45630opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/01-ferrari-superamerica-45630opt.jpg <![CDATA[Rare four-cylinder '57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/rare-four-cylinder-57-ferrari-testa-rossa-expected-to-top-4-mi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/rare-four-cylinder-57-ferrari-testa-rossa-expected-to-top-4-mi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/rare-four-cylinder-57-ferrari-testa-rossa-expected-to-top-4-mi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider
1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider - Click above for high-res image gallery

Wait a second, a Ferrari 500 with a four-cylinder engine? Come on, Autoblog - check your facts. Don't we mean a Fiat 500? Maybe that special-edition Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari? Nope. What we have here is a genuine four-cylinder Ferrari. And a highly coveted one at that.

The Ferrari 500 TRC (that's Testa Rossa Type-C) Spider was one of the last models Maranello ever built with an inline-four, the engine originally designed by Aurelio Lampredi for Formula Two, but later adapted for sports racing prototypes after the engineer's departure. Derived from the Monza, this was the first Ferrari to bear the Testa Rossa name for its red valve headers. And though the styling is similar, it's even rarer than the 250 Testa Rossa that followed: only 19 of these cars were built, all during just one year or production, making this rarer than the more powerful 12-cylinder 250 TR and 250 GTO that rake in the big bucks at auction.

This particular example - chassis number 0670 MDTR - was the sixth made, ordered by a customer in Sicily who entered it in numerous races around the world in its heyday. While other 500 TRC Spiders went on to claim class victories at Le Mans and the Targa Florio, this one took its class win at the Monte Pellegrino Hillclimb in Palermo - the same locale where we drove the Ferrari California on its launch several decades later.

The car stands as the latest consignment to RM Auctions' docket for the upcoming Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where it is expected to fetch €2,600,000 to €3,300,000 (equivalent to $3.6M to $4.6M at current rates). There it will stand alongside such notables recently covered on these pages as the collection of Bertone concept cars, the Talbot and Bugatti art-deco classics and the pair historic Zagato-bodied Kamm-tailed Alfa Romeos in what's shaping up to be an historic event in its own right. Follow the jump for more details on the 500 TRC and take a closer look in the high-res image gallery.

Continue reading Rare four-cylinder '57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction

Rare four-cylinder '57 Ferrari Testa Rossa expected to top $4 million at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1957 ferrari 500 trc spiderconcorso deleganza villa desteferrariferrari 500 testa rossaferrari 500 trc spiderferrari testa rossarmrm auctionstesta rossavilla desteTue, 17 May 2011 19:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942282/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/rare-four-cylinder-57-ferrari-testa-rossa-expected-to-top-4-mi/19942282/article-detail.xml 19942282 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web01-57ferrari500trc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web01-57ferrari500trc.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin to unveil new Zagato special at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/aston-martin-to-unveil-new-zagato-special-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/aston-martin-to-unveil-new-zagato-special-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/aston-martin-to-unveil-new-zagato-special-at-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aston Martin Zagato teaser rendering
Aston Martin Zagato teaser rendering - Click above for high-res image

Design house Zagato has created a seemingly endless array of beautiful machines for a wide variety of automakers. But few of them evoke the kind of storied and celebrated lines as the collaboration between Zagato and Aston Martin.

The first such venture started some 50 years ago with the eminently desirable and highly coveted DB4 GT, continuing through the V8 Vantage Zagato (based on the '80s-era muscle machine as opposed to the contemporary compact GT) and on to the DB7 Zagato and DB-AR1 of the last decade. Now the two are teaming up once again for a new coachbuilt special set to debut at Italy's upcoming Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where it will share the sunshine with Pininfarina's new custom Ferrari and what promises to be a staggering array of mechanical works of art.

Few details have been released at this point, though Aston has released the solitary teaser-rendering above. But AM is keen on displaying the initial show car, freshly draped in Milanese coachwork, to gauge public reaction prior to launching a commercially available version sometime in the near future. Follow the jump for a full run-down of the collaboration between the two marques in the official press release.

Continue reading Aston Martin to unveil new Zagato special at Villa d'Este

Aston Martin to unveil new Zagato special at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin zagatoconcorso deleganza villa destevilla destezagatoWed, 11 May 2011 10:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19937451/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/11/aston-martin-to-unveil-new-zagato-special-at-villa-deste/19937451/article-detail.xml 19937451 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-aston-zagato-rend_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-aston-zagato-rend.jpg <![CDATA[Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/ferrari-to-unveil-unique-super-america-45-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/ferrari-to-unveil-unique-super-america-45-at-villa-deste/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/ferrari-to-unveil-unique-super-america-45-at-villa-deste/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2011
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2011 official event poster - Click above for high-res image

Villa d'Este is a wonderful place. Situated along the shores of picturesque Lake Como in northern Italy, every year the palatial grounds play host to the Concorso d'Eleganza that strips all that is mundane and industrial about a regular car show and lets the sun shine through. The annual show is sponsored by BMW, but mixes the finest concept cars of the year with the most beautiful classics - and will feature an auction for the first time - but there's always something new in store for the concours.

Last year it was Zagato's Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa - the one-off that preceded the recently-announced TZ3 Stradale. And this year Ferrari and Pininfarina will showcase a new coachbuilt custom at the lakeside exposition, alongside the likes of the Audi Quattro Concept, Infiniti Etherea, Rinspeed BamBoo and James Glickenhaus' P4/5 Competizione.

Dubbed the Super America 45, it picks up its name from the Ferrari back catalog with models based on the 400, the 410 and most recently the 575M. This latest one-off is tipped to be based on the 599 GTB Fiorano (or one of the myriad variants thereof), commissioned by a New York collector through Maranello's custom orders department and fitted with unique sheetmetal from Pininfarina.

The press release on the event confirms the Super America 45's participation, but indicates it's a six-cylinder car. Since Ferrari hasn't made a V6 since the Dino 246 went out of production 37 years ago, we'll chalk that one up to a mistake. As for what the 45 stands for when the first Superamerica was introduced in 1956 is beyond us. One way or another, we'll find out when the show opens later this month, so follow the jump for the press release and watch this space for more.

Continue reading Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d'Este

Ferrari to unveil unique Super America 45 at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concorso deleganza villa desteferrariferrari super americaferrari super america 45pininfarinasuper americasuper america 45villa desteTue, 03 May 2011 13:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19930640/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/03/ferrari-to-unveil-unique-super-america-45-at-villa-deste/19930640/article-detail.xml 19930640 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2011-villa-deste-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2011-villa-deste-630.jpg <![CDATA[Alfa Romeo Zagato classics consigned to join their modern counterparts at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/alfa-romeo-zagato-classics-consigned-to-join-their-modern-counte/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/alfa-romeo-zagato-classics-consigned-to-join-their-modern-counte/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/alfa-romeo-zagato-classics-consigned-to-join-their-modern-counte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe
1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe (above) and 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ "Coda Tronca" (below right)
Click either image for high-res image galleries

The more things change - or so the saying goes - the more they stay the same. Half a century after the originals graced the open roads and the auto shows of the early 1960s, two classic coachbuilt Alfa Romeos have been reborn in modern style. We're talking about the Alfa Romeo TZ and the Coda Tronca - the former now heading into its fourth iteration in the form of the TZ3 Stradale, and the latter just recently remade as the Spada Codatronca Monza. And now their progenitors are set to cross the auction block.

Regarded in the same light by Alfa aficionados as the 250 GTO is by the Ferrari faithful, the original TZ (so named for its tubular space frame and Zagato coachwork) made a remarkable 1-2-3-4 class finish upon its race debut at Monza in 1963, complimented the same year by class wins at Sebring, Le Mans and the Nürburgring as well as an outright win at the Alpine Rally the following season. Only 112 examples were made, and this particular model - chassis #750006 - was prepared by Autodelta (the same Alfa tuner still operating in the UK) and fully restored to its original 1964 Le Mans condition after single-family ownership of 23 years.
1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
Likewise bodied by Zagato, this 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ "Coda Tronca" (chassis #0184) is one of only 30 such examples made out of 200 total SZs. Its Kamm-tailed body gave it its name, a shape which its original designer Ercole Spada reprised for his eponymous modern Corvette-powered special and which led to the development of the aforementioned TZ.

Both of these historic examples feature DOHC four-cylinder engines (1.6 liters and 150 horsepower for the TZ, and 1.3 liters and 135 hp for the Coda Tronca) mated to five-speed manual transmissions. They're set to join the Bertone prototypes and the Art Deco classics at RM's forthcoming auction at Villa d'Este, where the TZ is expected to fetch €475,000-€575,000 ($690k-835k) and the Coda Tronca €260,000-€300,000 ($377k-435k). With their modern successors destined for the garages of the extremely fortunate, we could hardly imagine better stablemates to join them. Have a closer look at each in the galleries below and delve further into their histories in the backgrounders after the jump.


Gallery: 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Coupe - chassis #750006


Gallery: 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ "Coda Tronca" - chassis #0184


[Source: RM Auctions | Images: Dirk De Jager, Simon Clay/RM]

Continue reading Alfa Romeo Zagato classics consigned to join their modern counterparts at Villa d'Este

Alfa Romeo Zagato classics consigned to join their modern counterparts at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1962 alfa romeo giulietta sz coda tronca1964 alfa romeo tzalfa romeoalfa romeo tzcoda troncacodatroncaconcorso deleganza villa desterm auctionstzvilla desteTue, 26 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19919284/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/26/alfa-romeo-zagato-classics-consigned-to-join-their-modern-counte/19919284/article-detail.xml 19919284 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-011964-alfa-romeo-tz-copy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-011964-alfa-romeo-tz-copy.jpg <![CDATA[Art Deco French dream machines to cross the auction block at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/art-deco-french-dream-machines-to-cross-the-auction-block-at-vil/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/art-deco-french-dream-machines-to-cross-the-auction-block-at-vil/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/07/art-deco-french-dream-machines-to-cross-the-auction-block-at-vil/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe - chassis #90112
1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe #90112 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic may be the most iconic of the Art Deco-era French teardrop coupes, but it isn't the only one. Which is a good thing, because there's only two or three of them in existence (and we had a photo session with one of them). The Talbot-Lago may not be as well known today - probably because the company's not around anymore - but it's arguably just as beautiful, and this one's crossing the auction block.

This particular example - a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe - is one of only 11 examples that featured the second-series "New York" bodywork by coachbuilders Figoni et Falaschi that made the Talbot-Lago the poster child that it is. (This writer had a purple one up on his wall as a child.) Underneath the unspeakably gorgeous sheetmetal (one of only a handful with a factory-installed sunroof) sits a shortened race-bred chassis and a 140-horsepower 4.0-liter inline-six with pre-Mopar hemispherical combustion chambers and triple carbs, along with an independent front suspension. Chassis number 90112 was the subject of a full restoration completed in-house by RM Auctions, and was decorated at both Pebble Beach in 2009 and at Meadowbrook in 2010. And we even like the color...

1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante Coupe - chassis #57551As if that's not enough, there's a 1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante Coupe (the slightly more common - but still rare by any other standard - production counterpart to the Atlantic) also on the docket. One of just 40 examples produced, chassis 57551 was named Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 1976. The pair join the Bertone Museum collection and the Ford GT40 Roadster on which we already reported at RM Auctions' inaugural sale on the shores of Lake Como at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Read more about the Talbot and the Bugatti in the press releases after the jump, and do be sure to check out the images in the high-res gallery below for a closer look.


Gallery: 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe - chassis #90112


[Source: RM Auctions | Images: shooterz.biz, Troy Wood/RM]

Continue reading Art Deco French dream machines to cross the auction block at Villa d'Este

Art Deco French dream machines to cross the auction block at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1937 Bugatti 57SC Atalante Coupe1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupeatalantebugattibugatti 57sc atalantebugatti type 57concorso deleganza villa destermrm auctionstalbottalbot lagotalbot-lagovilla desteThu, 07 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19903485/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/07/art-deco-french-dream-machines-to-cross-the-auction-block-at-vil/19903485/article-detail.xml 19903485 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-talbot-villadeste_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-talbot-villadeste.jpg <![CDATA[Crazy collection of concepts from Bertone to be auctioned by RM at Villa d'Este]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/crazy-collection-of-concepts-from-bertone-to-be-auctioned-by-rm/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/crazy-collection-of-concepts-from-bertone-to-be-auctioned-by-rm/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/crazy-collection-of-concepts-from-bertone-to-be-auctioned-by-rm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero by Bertone
1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero from the Bertone Museum - Click above for high-res image gallery

You can't make an omelet, or so the saying goes, without breaking some eggs. So while it's unfortunate that the restructuring at Bertone means the dissolution of its museum collection, it also means that its contents are going up for auction. And they'll be crossing the block at no less fitting a location than Villa d'Este.

Those in the know will recognize Villa d'Este for the Concorso d'Eleganza held there every year, where the most gorgeous and rare of classic cars mingle with the finest concept cars unveiled throughout the year. This year's concours will mark the first time that RM Auctions will be holding an event at the open-air show on picturesque Lake Como, and in addition to the myriad unspeakably beautiful classics on the docket, RM has just announced the consignment of six concept cars from the Bertone Museum, each one-of-a-kind in its own right and available to collectors for the first time.

The consignment includes the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal, 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, 1963 Chevrolet Testudo, 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, 1980 Lamborghini Athon and 1978 Lancia Sibilo. Each was a seminal design for Bertone, and each is expected to fetch well into the six and even seven figures. The Marzal, particularly, which was driven by Prince Ranier and Princess Grace at the start of 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, and the Stratos, the first prototype for the iconic supercar rally machine of the same name, are expected to sell for between €1,000,000 and €1,800,000... that's as much as $2.5 million apiece in equivalent American funds.

Have a look at the collection (sans the Lancia Siblio, images for which are en route) in the high-resolution image gallery below, and follow the jump for the full details in the press release. Hat tip to Sea Urchin!


Gallery: Bertone concepts at RM Auctions Villa d'Este

1967 Lamborghini Marzal1967 Lamborghini Marzal1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero

[Source: RM Auctions | Images: Tom Wood/RM]

Continue reading Crazy collection of concepts from Bertone to be auctioned by RM at Villa d'Este

Crazy collection of concepts from Bertone to be auctioned by RM at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbertonebertone museumbertone+collectionbertone+concepts+at+rm+auctions+villa+destebertonecollectionbertoneconceptsatrmauctionsvilladestechevroletconcept carsconcorso deleganza villa destelamborghinilanciarm auctionsvilla destevisit+to+the+museo+stile+bertone+2011visittothemuseostilebertone2011Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19897244/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/30/crazy-collection-of-concepts-from-bertone-to-be-auctioned-by-rm/19897244/article-detail.xml 19897244 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/web630-bertone-ve11r10514_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/web630-bertone-ve11r10514.jpg <![CDATA[Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa live in the flesh]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/26/alfa-romeo-tz3-corsa-live-in-the-flesh/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/26/alfa-romeo-tz3-corsa-live-in-the-flesh/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/26/alfa-romeo-tz3-corsa-live-in-the-flesh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa with Andrea Zagato - click above for high-res image gallery

The caviar and concours-loving world was rocked this past Saturday night when Zagato dropped its Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa bomb. Seriously y'all, this sucker's so stunning that we don't even mind the childish graphics. In fact, our only gripe is that we weren't in attendance at the this weekend's 2010 Villa D'Este Concours so we could check out the tube-framed, almost Kamm-tailed TZ3 ourselves. Meaning we have no real gripes to speak of.

Luckily, an Autoblog reader named Graziano Mancini was there, took some shots, and he was good enough to send them on share with you. We like the live pictures even better than the stock studio shots. The TZ3 has that classic, special early 1960s Euro-racer charm and grace that is simply lacking from modern cars. Long story short, the car's fabulous. But don't take our word for it - the Zagato-penned Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa won the Villa D'Este's concept class. Very well done. Also, we'd be remiss if we didn't offer Andrea Zagato (above) a very happy 50th birthday today. Check out Mancini's full slate of shots in the gallery below.


Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Live


Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa live in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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