Photo Gallery, Review & Specifications |
2012 BMW Zagato Coupe Concept
The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este will once again host a spectacular world premiere in 2012 and, in so doing, build on its tradition as a gathering of the industry's leading coachbuilders. The premiere in question will see the time-honored Milanese coachbuilder Zagato team up with BMW to unveil the result of a unique collaboration: the BMW Zagato Coupé. (continued below)
2012 Zagato Coupe Concept Photo Gallery |
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BMW Zagato Concept Debuts at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
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Source: BMW | Published: Mon May 28, 2012 |
(continued from above)
Zagato has worked in close collaboration to create an exciting and
emotionally charged coupé in the finest tradition of automotive workmanship. The
BMW Zagato Coupé embodies the unbridled fascination of cars and fuses the design
DNA of the two companies into a fresh and distinctive whole. This one-off model
is the product of many hours of skilled hand-craftsmanship and breathes new life
into the tradition of coachbuilding.
It is hard to think of a better occasion for the premiere than the Concorso
d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, one of the most exclusive events in the world of
classic cars and motorcycles. The vehicles shown on the banks of Lake Como are
hand-picked, the number of entrants limited and the surroundings simply without
comparison. The Concorso began as a get-together of coachbuilders presenting
one-off hand-built creations, and the BMW Zagato Coupé follows very much in that
tradition.
Made for the Road
The two partners settled on a realistic and applied approach to the development
of the BMW Zagato Coupé. "Zagato has always provided its customers with
ready-to-drive cars which can be sent into action on the road or race track
without further ado - and the BMW Zagato Coupé fits the same template," says Dr
Andrea Zagato, who represents the third generation of his family to sit at the
helm of the company. To this end, the car is registered for road use and meets
all the legal requirements worldwide. "It is relatively easy to build a design
study which is not intended for use on the road. Not having to meet any
stipulations governing crash safety or pedestrian protection opens up a host of
new avenues in terms of design," he adds. "The challenge lies in injecting the
emotional appeal of a concept car into a road-legal machine. And we think we
have succeeded in doing just that with the BMW Zagato Coupé." Indeed, the new
creation has already cut a "bella figura" at high speeds during testing on the
BMW test track.
Both partners can look back on a rich heritage, sharing as they do a passion for
cars that stretches back over 80 years. Added to which, Adrian van Hooydonk,
Senior Vice-President BMW Group Design, and Andrea Zagato are long-time
appreciators of each other's work; indeed, Zagato took home the prestigious
Concorso d'Eleganza Design Award in both 2010 and 2011. However, this
collaboration is about more than mutual respect.
Zagato chief designer Norihiko Harada and van Hooydonk have been friends for
many years, so when Andrea Zagato proposed a collaboration, it wasn't long
before the decision was made to build a car at Zagato that embodies the two
companies' passion for cars.
BMW Zagato Coupe Concept: Review (2/2)
Specifications |
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive |
Powertrain |
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Torque |
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Redline |
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Driveline |
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Transmission |
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Brakes & Tires |
Brakes Front - Rear |
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Tire Size Front - Rear |
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Exterior Dimensions & Weight |
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Performance |
0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) |
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1/4 Mile |
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60-0 mph Braking |
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Fuel Economy |
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Origin & Price |
Manufacturer's Origin |
Germany |
Where Built |
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