Auto Design

by Giancarlo Perini (c)

The first official pictures of the all-new BMW i8 Concept Spyder, likely to be a star at the forthcoming Beijing Motor Show, are just out.

Whereas ppotential buyers have almost two years to ponder about their choice between the coupé and the spyder, BMW competitors will rush to look at the new show-car in every detail. In fact the new running prototype appears to be the next step toward the design that will actaully enter production next year.

It is obvious that when the new supercar from BMW is rready for the market Ferrari and Lamborghini will have a new powerful competitor to confront with. Not only the futuristic hybrid powerplant will make their current offering obsolete overnight but the design and the style of the new car will rock the establishement.

There is not much to add but, perhaps, the technical specifications of the show-car, getting closer and closer to the real two seater sport-car in the making.

BMW 2012 i8 Concept Spyder Gallery

Specifications. BMW i8 Concept Spyder.

Giancarlo Perini (c)

After proposing a series of concepts and teasers, Mini is now ready to launch on the market its sixth member of its range: the Mini Roadster. The charming kid is the first open-top two-seater in the brand history and to so me extent it links to the British tradition of open sports cars, with a light and simple manual soft-top roof. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini. ©

You can’t be mistaken: the show car that Smart is presenting in Geneva with the name of “forspeed” proves that the company’s designers have taken a ride on the roller-coaster and had a lot of fun in creating an EV Roadster so full of curvatures, shapes and colour that in its full-size dimension attract teen-agers with a driving license and, in a smaller scale, would be the dream of their younger brothers and sister under ten. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

With their Vision Efficient Dynamic unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and to enter limited production at the end of 2013, BMW designers gave form to a series of innovation focusing on fuel efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions through a very attractive, lighter and more compact, four-seater, supercar, with high performance hybrid technology. Read the rest of this entry »

by Giancarlo Perini.

After “inventing” the convertible-coupé for their first generation SLK, first launched in 1996, Mercedes-Benz is keen to maintain their leadership in the speciality and further develop the “air and light” unique atmosphere inside their cosy Roadster. The third generation is being launched this year. With orders collected starting January 17^th. In Germany the starting price is € 38,675.00 for the SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY (€ 44,256.10 for the SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY).  Although not cheap the new Mercedes-Benz SLK is probably the most affordable convertible-coupé of this class. Read the rest of this entry »

With most new concept cars actually relying on hybrid technology or Electric drive only, there were three traditional concepts cars. The first was a dream car, the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Super Light. The other two came both from Mini: the Mini Coupé and Roadster, both previewing the spirited design that will set the next Mini “Twin” models apart. Read the rest of this entry »

Lamborghini has announced its ultimate roadster. The stunning Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster that the company will produce in a limited series Read the rest of this entry »

At this anniversary Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the BMW Group will itself be celebrating a rather special birthday: it was 80 years ago that BMW produced its very first automobile. “The past 80 years have shown the high status that BMW accords to design and style. The same applies to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. And that is not least of all why are a perfect fit,” says Karl Baumer, Director of BMW Group Classic and Chairman of the Concorso
When BMW looks back on its 80-year tradition of car manufacturing at this year’s Concorso, visitors can expect to set eyes on some stunning beauties on wheels. Among the models on show will be a BMW 303, the first Bavarian car to sport the kidney-shaped radiator grille, and an example of the BMW 502, which entered the motoring history books as the so-called “baroque angel”. Models dating back to the 1960s, such as the BMW 2002, and the cars that established the BMW model series in the 1970s will also rank among the exhibits. As a special highlight, BMW will be presenting all its legendary roadsters of the last 75 years: from the 315/1 and 319/1 to the 328 and 507, all the way to the Z1, Z3 and Z8 – plus the latest addition to the family, the new BMW Z4.