“BEST OF SHOW”: BMW 328 “BÜGELFALTE” WINS THE TROFEO BMW GROUP. CONCORSO D’ELEGANZA VILLA D’ESTE 2026 PRESENTS A MULTITUDE OF HIGHLIGHTS AND TWO WORLD PREMIERES

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Munich/Cernobbio. The participants in this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (May 15th – 17th 2026) and the visitors to the event enjoyed an unforgettable experience amid spring temperatures on the shores of Lake Como. Assembled under the banner “Future needs Heritage”, the Concorso’s selection of motoring gems and vehicle exhibits extended from the early eras of the automobile to cutting-edge concept cars and prototypes. The result was a compelling overview of more than a century of automotive history. The stunning Villa d’Este luxury hotel provided a fitting backdrop for the world’s most elegant and prestigious contest for historic automobiles.

The only special roadster produced at the Munich plant

The BMW 328 “Bügelfalte” from 1937 was crowned the overall winner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2026 by the Jury of distinguished experts – and therefore claimed the title of “Best of Show”. This one-off model owes its name to the eye-catching metal edging atop its front wings.

On Sunday evening, its proud owner Stefano Martinoli was honoured with the “Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show”. The prestigious winner’s prize was presented by Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange and Söhne, and the President of the Jury, Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Along with the impressive trophy, the winner – selected by the Jury – also received a unique example of the 1815 CHRONOGRAPH timepiece in 18-carat white gold with solid pink-gold dial and hand-engraved Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este crest on the hinged cuvette. This exclusive watch was created by A. Lange & Söhne specially for the winner of the Trofeo BMW Group. Another A. Lange & Söhne masterpiece was also celebrating its premiere at the Concorso: the Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold, released in a limited edition of 50 pieces.

Mercedes-Benz SL 300 Roadster wins prize selected by Public Referendum

The Trofeo Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este, awarded by public vote, was won by the Mercedes-Benz SL 300 Roadster owned by Eric Blumencranz from the USA. This 1963 car was one of the last examples to leave the factory.

In total, 54 vehicles from 13 countries took their places in this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este across eight competition classes. Out of these emerged the respective class winners. While some of the classes were dedicated to a particular era, others represented more unusual groupings – such as spectacular Ferraris from the 1950s and 60s, and cars from various decades radiating a very special aura thanks to their original condition and lack of extensive restoration.

The grand parades outside Villa d’Este on Saturday and in the parkland of Villa Erba on Sunday were each led by a BMW 328, the roadster turned legend celebrating its 90th birthday this year. Built from 1936 to 1940, the 328 – with its 2.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine – represents a milestone in automotive history and was the most successful sports car of the 1930s. The 328 shaped the character of BMW like arguably no other model and continues to enthral to this day. All those years ago, it already embodied the attributes that continue to define the brand to this day: dynamism, aesthetic appeal and standout technology.

Two BMW world premieres on Friday evening

The first highlight of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2026 arrived on Friday evening with the world premiere of the Vision BMW ALPINA. This car combines all the elements that set the newly established BMW ALPINA brand apart: extreme driving capability, sophistication, and the mastery of both performance and comfort. The coupé roofline is long and raked, its form signalling the dynamism that accompanies an ability to accommodate four people in genuine comfort. At 5,200 mm in length, the 2+2-seater exudes an imposing presence, and its V8 engine provides a fitting choice of power source. Four elliptical exhaust tailpipes conjure the characteristic Alpina notes that are such an influence on the driving experience: sonorous and deep at low speeds, muscular and stirring at higher revs.

Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, said: “I think the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is exactly the right place to unveil a new car; it’s very much in keeping with this year’s motto “Future needs Heritage”. A reveal of this kind at Villa d’Este is something quite special; here, we are drawing a line from the past, through the present to the future. I find the atmosphere at the Villa d’Este really fantastic. The special thing about it is this: arguably nowhere else in the world can you experience this scenario of a brand-new model among all of these historic vehicles. This is what makes the event so captivating.”

The second world premiere on Friday evening saw BMW Motorrad laying down a powerful, emotionally engaging statement. The BMW Motorrad Vision K18 stands for uncompromising passion, assured long-distance performance and outstanding visual presence. The guiding visual theme of the Vision K18 is “The Heat of Speed”. A 1,800 cc six-cylinder in-line engine is the bike’s technical and stylistic centrepiece. It steers the appearance of the arrow-shaped “Full Force Forward” bike from every angle, it encapsulates the commitment of BMW Motorrad to blending technical excellence with emotional resonance, and it makes performance not only numbers on a sheet of paper but also an experience for the eye to behold. At the same time, the straight six is showcased as an element of BMW’s DNA and flies the flag for pioneering spirit – dialling up the radicalism, sharpening character at a detail level and inspiring solutions for future series-produced machines in the process.

The two Public Days of the weekend gave BMW Group Classic the platform to appeal to a broad audience of car enthusiasts. At the heart of the programme was “Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht”, which has developed into a fixture of the Concorso within just a few years. Here, fans of legendary cars and enthusiasts get together in the extensive grounds of Villa Erba to compare notes on their favourites.

40 Years of the BMW M3
The big “40 Years of the BMW M3” anniversary created considerable excitement thanks to the array of cars on display. This was the model that launched a whole new category: the compact high-performance sports car. The original BMW M3 started life as a homologation special for a variety of touring car race series. To gain the necessary clearance to take its place on the grid, at least 5,000 road-legal examples of each competing model had to be sold. That figure was surpassed by some distance, as the BMW M3 quickly became a byword for driving pleasure and technical expertise. Between 1987 and 1992, the BMW Motorsport GmbH-built BMW M3 E30 won all the relevant touring car race series and today remains the most successful touring car racer of all time. Many legendary wheelmen were keen to be present at the anniversary, including BMW works drivers Johnny Cecotto, Roberto Ravaglia and Emanuelle Pirro, and brand ambassador HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria.

At Villa Erba, BMW celebrated the 50-year anniversary of both the BMW 6 Series and the BMW Art Car Collection as part of the BMW Art Car World Tour. On display were two masterpieces from the collection – Robert Rauschenberg’s BMW 635 CSi from 1986 and John Baldessari’s BMW M6 GTLM from 2016 – that were celebrating landmark anniversaries of their own. Stopping off at 60 locations in more than 30 countries, the “on tour” BMW Art Cars have now greeted over two million visitors at leading art fairs, museums, motor sport events and cultural institutions. The BMW Art Car World Tour will reach its pinnacle in summer 2026 with the biggest exhibition yet at BMW Welt in Munich.

The spectacular parade of all the historic cars in the grounds of Villa Erba on Sunday turned into an acclaimed show-reel, with the “Concept Cars & Prototypes” class adding to the attraction by creating a bridge between the past and the future. Following the parade, Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, handed over the receipts from ticket sales on Saturday to Enrico and Giovanni Figini, presidents of the La Cometa charitable organisation in Cernobbio. In the presence of Cernobbio mayor Matteo Monti and his deputy Mario Della Torre, Helmut Käs also presented another donation from BMW Group Classic to Elisabetta Forni, President of aid organisation Comitato Basso Lario, likewise based in Cernobbio.

Longstanding partnerships with BMW Group Classic
 “The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is much more than simply one of the most renowned events in the classic car world. Since 1929, it has also been a place where beauty, tradition, craftsmanship and passion converge to inimitable effect – and that can now look back on almost a century of history,” says Davide Bertilaccio, CEO Villa d'Este Hotels. “At Villa d’Este, the Concorso is an integral part of our identity. We don’t just host the event, we are committed to extending its legacy. We are guardians of something unique, something that doesn’t only belong to the present but also to the generations before us that created it and to those who will have the privilege and responsibility of carrying it on. Our long partnership with the BMW Group, which now stretches back over more than 20 years, has enabled this extraordinary event to continue evolving while staying true to itself. Together, we have set ourselves the aim of preserving its authenticity, refining every detail and ensuring that every edition of the event remains a celebration of timeless elegance, automotive excellence and the unmistakable spirit of Villa d’Este. Of course, the true success of the Concorso lies in the exceptional vehicles and in the emotions at play here – in the enthusiasm of collectors, experts and visitors from around the world and in the sense of wonder that this place always evokes. This makes the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este not only an event but also a legacy that must be preserved, protected and passed on,” adds Bertilaccio.

Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne, also highlighted the long-standing partnership with BMW Group Classic: “The worlds of fine watchmaking and automobiles have much in common: timeless design, the finest craftsmanship and utmost precision. And we have been celebrating this for 15 years now as a partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. But this is also about never standing still, about letting the wheels of cars roll and the hands of watches circle their dials. More than anything, though, it requires great passion to be part of these two worlds. All of this can be found both in the Best of Show winner and the specially manufactured example of our 1815 CHRONOGRAPH. And so it was a great pleasure for me to present the winner of this year’s competition with this unique timepiece.”

Bidders from 31 countries at the Broad Arrows auctions
Broad Arrow Auctions, driven by Hagerty, returned as the official auction partner of BMW AG for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, registering a 71 percent increase in bidders over 2025 with those bidders representing 31 different countries. Over two days, Broad Arrow Auctions hosted a spectacular sale of 70 cars epitomising style, performance and desirability, with collectors from around the world treated to a superb atmosphere at Villa Erba.

A 2018 Pagani Zonda Unica was the star attraction in the sale, along with a 2023 Ferrari Daytona SP3 and one of the most iconic supercars of all, a 1990 Ferrari F40. They formed part of a superb catalogue of classic and contemporary models from BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and others, all of which contributed to an auction that shared the same sense of glamour and heritage as the Concorso itself. Full results of the auction are available on the Broad Arrow Auctions website.

BMW Group Classic would like to thank its sponsors and partners A. Lange & Söhne, Broad Arrow Auctions, Vranken-Pommery Monopole and Schedoni Modena.

To bridge the gap until the next edition of the event, we would like to invite all car enthusiasts to look back on the highlights of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2026 at www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com.

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Please open the attached file to see the complete list of winners.