The Past and Future of BMW at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

It has to be said - every prestigious classic automobile event in the world is special and coveted because it is seemingly exclusive. Sure hundreds attend, but it is just hundreds, not thousands. So to be invited is to be exposed to that little bit extra which others don't always get to see.

And so it is with excitement that I approach my first ever Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. It is the annual classic auto event that draws celebrated enthusiasts, designers, collectors and of course the media. The automobiles on display are all by invitation only and it is seen as a big deal in the classic car circles to have your car shown here. The setting in Cernobbio, on the shores of Lake Como makes it even more spectacular and romantic!

This is the 14th year that the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este and the BMW Group have been jointly hosting the annual Concorso, since its revival in 1995 - after nearly 5 decades.

It is also the place therefore, that the BMW Group usually unveils significant design studies or concepts. And this year there are two concepts! Both are unexpected in a sense. One is a MINI and the other a motorcycle!

Lets talk about the bike first. BMW Motorrad celebrated 90 years at this event last year, and so a concept motorcycle that signals the direction ahead, is very apt then isn't it?

BMW had already presented the Concept Ninety at Cernobbio last year - a boxer engine bike that harked back to glorious era of the Motorrad's history. The company harbours ambitions to go headlong into future generations of boxer-powered roadsters, and so what we are getting to see at Cernobbio this year is the Concept Roadster. "By contrast, the contemporary emotional appeal of the BMW Concept Roadster shows that, as far as BMW is concerned, motorcycling is much more than just perfect function," says Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design.

The bike is a roadster in every sense, and is powered by a 2 cylinder boxer engine. It carries a light tubular space-frame. "The BMW Concept Roadster is exciting to look and at least as exciting to ride," promises Ola Stenegard, Head of Vehicle Design at BMW Motorrad.

The latest generation of the boxer engine has a 1170cc displacement and punches 125 bhp. Peak torque comes in at a hearty 125 Nm. The company says that the engine's compact proportions (with low front & high rear) form a wedge-shaped silhouette around it which give the Concept Roadster an impression of moving fast - even when standing still. The bike's colour scheme is split into light tones at the top, with darker tones for the engine and below. BMW Motorrad has played with the headlamp styling to bring back a sense of the classic round headlamp with a very modern twist. It is of course an LED unit. The fuel tank is angular yet muscular, with steel elements to contrast the shimmering white paint. The bike's rear is fashioned from gloss milled aluminium. The bike has neon yellow accents, and the single-seat is finished in high-end alcantara. BMW has not made any announcements as yet about the production plan it may have for this concept, but its styling and its engine certainly point to the company's future intent.

Now lets talk about the concept car - and guess what? Its also a roadster! The MINI Superleggera Vision is a classic open-top two seater sports car that has been designed by MINI in conjunction with Touring Superleggera (the Italian coach building house from Milan). The MINI Superleggera Vision is a classic roadster, and yet it uses an electric drivetrain to indicate a contemporary thought behind it. Touring Superleggera has truly brought to life the wonderful Italian tradition of classic coachwork construction.

(Check Out the Image Gallery of the MINI Superleggera)

Yet one look at the car and you instantly get a sense of a classic British roadster. That said, the face of the car seems a bit exaggerated and perhaps almost too hemmed in by MINI's new design look. But I do agree that the concept car does still deliver on the company's claim of "Modern Britishness meets Italian flair." Hand-shaped metal sheeting does add the required emotional appeal for a design study such as this.

The interior boasts traditional coachwork construction too, with very old-style colour palette and materials used. There is plenty of leather, aluminium and chrome though, lets not lose sight of that!

"Touring Superleggera and MINI have much in common: both companies attach great importance to their history and this is something which defines their outward appearance to this day. What is more, they both emphasise iconic design and distinctive solutions. These elements are merged in the MINI Superleggera Vision to create an elegant automobile which interprets a British roadster under the influence of Italian style and hand craftsmanship." Says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. What he has conveniently left out is the sheer German-ness of the car too! But having said that the car does instantly remind you of cars like the Austin Healey from the 1950s. And to remind you of its heritage, the car sports taillights that have the Union Jack emblazoned into them. That's actually quite nice!

The face though as I said, is trademark MINI, with the circular headlights, hexagonal grille and even the use of LEDs like the new generation production MINI Cooper, that's just rolling out worldwide. There are also classic sports car elements such as a wide track, curved wheel arches, and yes MINI's own prerequisite - the classic stripes on the hood that have been three-dimensionally embossed and run on into high-quality polished aluminium accents.

"MINI and Touring both believe that proportions are the key factor of beauty, and share the same values of essentiality and innovation" says Louis de Fabribeckers, Head of design of Touring Superleggera. "In this car all unnecessary equipment or decoration is sacrificed, as performance is gained through lightness and efficiency of the bodywork and interior. The Italian touch is in the proportions and the typical waistline."

The paint finish is aptly named Como Blue and it does definitely represent the classic roadster, while retaining the required finish of a modern-day sports car too. In keeping with the latter, the car uses aluminium and carbon fibre reinforced plastic or CFRP too. The company hasn't shared any detail on the electric powertrain under the hood. Will MINI ever make such a car? Its doubtful. But given how the brand has surprised us and done things that went us go, "oh no they didn't!" one just never knows. This could be a Mazda Miata-like success story waiting to happen, and one that allows MINI to stretch the boundaries of its brand yet again.

Another car on display tonight was the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe; Waterspeed. The car was revealed in London earlier this month, to celebrate the water speed record set by Sir Malcolm Campbell. The new model basically shows off the complete range of bespoke options from the carmaker. Only 35 of these will be made. And the prices hover in $730,000 range.

BMW also used the opportunity to show off its own latest baby. The 30th anniversary edition of the M5 - the most powerful road going BMW ever, with 600 bhp on tap. The car made its first debut in the public eye at the exclusive preview for select media on the eve of the Concorso.