The most exciting concept studies at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2014

Most design studies are revealed in artificially lit exhibition halls – few are fortunate enough to be given a backdrop as beautiful as a sun-drenched Lake Como. Here are the most striking concepts from Villa d’Este 2014…

Maserati Alfieri

In its centennial year, Maserati was always going to be a major theme at Villa d’Este. Fresh from the Geneva Motor Show in March is the Maserati Alfieri concept, whose reception at Villa d’Este has echoed the sentiments in Switzerland – which have seen the A6 GCS/53-inspried 2+2 confirmed for production in 2016. 

Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato

Following design studies for BMW and Aston Martin in recent years, creative thinking is clearly in full flow at the Zagato studios – as proven by the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato concept debuting this year, using the Gallardo as a basis. It might not be the most elegant product to come from the Milanese design house, but it’s certainly remained faithful to the idiosyncratic design language. And, in today’s automotive world, that’s worth a lot.

Electric Mini Superleggera Vision by Touring

A year after bringing its wonderful Disco Volante to the 2013 concours, Touring has revealed its latest masterpiece: the Electric Mini Superleggera Vision. Previewing a possible indirect successor to the current Coupés and Roadsters, it embraces English brand cues alongside Italian coachwork – with the latest German drivetrain technology lying below. Of all the design studies, this is the one we’d most like to take for a lakeside spin.

BMW Vision Future Luxury

From the Beijing Motor Show to Lake Como comes the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept. Whether it serves as inspiration for the company’s future design language or previews a new 9 Series is still not clear – but a large Bavarian luxury liner would surely interest at least a few concours visitors?

Aston Martin DBS Coupé Centennial

For Aston Martin’s centenary celebrations last year, Zagato presented two unique models: theCoupé and Spyder Centennials. The former – commissioned by a young Japanese fashion entrepreneur – has now appeared at Villa d’Este, the backdrop doing much more for its curious Italian curves.

F. LLi Frigerio 'Berlinetta SS'

Introducing a modern sports car with a retro look is a brave thing to do at a pageant for several dozen of history’s most elegant classic cars. Nevertheless, the curvaceous coachwork and wire wheels of the F. LLi Frigerio ‘Berlinetta SS’ convinced the selection committee to allow the four-cylinder study into the concept shortlist.

Giugiaro Parcours

The Italdesign Giugiaro Parcours concept was first shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and now the chunky SUV with its 550HP Lamborghini V10 sits just as strikingly on the lakeside at Villa d’Este. The Bolognese car-maker owns the legendary design house, so don’t be surprised if traces of the Parcours are to be found in the production Lamborghini off-roader.

Volvo Concept Estate

A Volvo estate is more often found parked in a teachers’ car park than in the grounds of a grand hotel. However, the Volvo Concept Estate is a re-interpretation of the classic shooting brake silhouette, with more than a passing resemblance to the Aston Martin Bertone Jet 2 + 2 from the 2013 concours. Two thumbs up from us.

Classic Driver reports live from the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2014 – and is kindly supported by Berenberg private bank. For the latest articles from Lake Como, click here.