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July 28, 2026
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2026 Report — The "Vision BMW ALPINA" Makes Its World Premiere
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2026
Once again, car enthusiasts from around the world gathered on the shores of Lake Como. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the world’s oldest concours d’elegance, first began in 1929. Amidst the competition for elegance among historic, one-off machines, the highlight was the new generation Alpina unveiled by long-time sponsor BMW. Motor journalist Tatsuya Kushima reports from the scene.
Text by Tatsuya Kushima
A Celebration of Elegance Forged by Automotive Culture
Europe boasts a long automotive history. Generally, the origins of the automobile are traced back to the developments by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in 1886. It's also crucial to note the emergence of racing from this era. Motorsports, as we know them today, became popular, capturing public attention through events like the popular hill climb races in Britain and the city-to-city rallies prevalent in France.
One of the organizations formed by car enthusiasts of that era was the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Founded in 1906, it is known for organizing the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which started in 1923. Its members are largely volunteers—an organization by car lovers, for car lovers.
As a result of the evolution of the automotive environment, numerous valuable car events continue to be held across Europe today. These include the Goodwood Festival of Speed and its Revival counterpart, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, and the Le Mans Classic. More recently, the Chantilly Arts & Elegance has also emerged, a car show with a touch of Richard Mille.
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which I covered this time, falls into this category. It began in 1929 as a competition of elegance, quite literally. Each year, unique categories are established, and cars that meet these criteria are entered to compete for evaluation.
Furthermore, most of these are true treasures. The lineup includes vehicles once commissioned by European nobility, machines that triumphed in historic races, and valuable one-off concept cars.
Even for seasoned car enthusiasts, there are many vehicles that make you exclaim, "I didn't know this car existed!" The 140-year history of the automobile is truly impressive.
Select Cars Gather on the Shores of Lake Como
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este offers an exceptional atmosphere, befitting its location. As a premier concours in Europe, it is held in a fitting venue: Lake Como. This area, once favored by aristocrats, is now a playground for the wealthy, akin to Hollywood celebrities, who own villas here. The scenery, with views of the Alps to the north of the lake, is profoundly evocative.
The title, Villa d'Este, refers to the villa (lodging) located there. In essence, the concours held in its gardens is the heart of the event.
The concours takes place here every Saturday in May, and on the following Sunday, the participating cars are displayed to the public at the adjacent Villa Erba.
This is when car enthusiasts, from youngsters to veterans, gather. The event is packed with attractions, including food trucks, souvenir shops, and auctions.
Let's return to the Villa d'Este.
The entry models must conform to the criteria of their respective categories. From these, the best is selected, leading to the final Best of Show award.
The categories themselves are particularly noteworthy. While generally divided by era or car type, some classes are dedicated to specific brands, historic races, or cars associated with influential figures in automotive history.
For instance, categories might celebrate brands reaching a milestone anniversary or cars that won famous races like the Mille Miglia. In 2026, there were categories for endurance racing cars with deep ties to Enzo Ferrari, and for GT cars evoking the Mod culture that emerged on London's Carnaby Street in the 1960s. These are quite cultural and unique categorizations.
The entry models included the Ferrari "250MM," "340MM," and "250GT Competizione Tour de France" for the former, and the "Aston Martin DB5 V8" and "Lamborghini Countach LP400" for the latter.
The Best of Show winner was the "BMW 328 Mille Miglia." This was a race car built for the 1940 Mille Miglia. Its distinguishing feature was the lightweight 328 equipped with a high-powered Silky-Six engine. It is likely another rare, one-off vehicle.
The V8 Engine Lives On
Such is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and one car manufacturer has been a consistent supporter of this grand event: BMW. They have been involved with this concours as a sponsor for many years.
Consequently, they have unveiled concept cars at this venue annually. However, this year's presentation garnered even greater attention because it was the new generation Alpina.
Its name is the "Vision BMW ALPINA." It is a stylish big coupe. Furthermore, it was announced that this beautiful body would be powered by a V8 engine. Contrary to expectations of it being a BEV, it was not. This delighted old-school car enthusiasts. While it may feature electric motors, the internal combustion engine remains very much alive.
This concludes the overview of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a place I had the opportunity to revisit. It is an event that truly allows one to experience the depth of automotive culture in Europe.
To Learn More About the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
Q. What was the original purpose of "Villa d'Este," the venue for the event?
While Villa d'Este is known today as a luxury hotel, its origins trace back to 1568 when Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Secretary of State to Pope Pius IV, commissioned it as his summer residence. It was renamed in the 19th century to commemorate the marriage of an Este princess and is now a designated national cultural asset, preserving its Italian gardens and lakeside views. The history of this residence, born as a noble summer retreat and later becoming the stage for one of the world's foremost classic car events, speaks volumes about the prestige of the concours.
While Villa d'Este is known today as a luxury hotel, its origins trace back to 1568 when Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Secretary of State to Pope Pius IV, commissioned it as his summer residence. It was renamed in the 19th century to commemorate the marriage of an Este princess and is now a designated national cultural asset, preserving its Italian gardens and lakeside views. The history of this residence, born as a noble summer retreat and later becoming the stage for one of the world's foremost classic car events, speaks volumes about the prestige of the concours.
Q. Are there any awards besides Best of Show that are noteworthy?
In addition to the Best of Show selected by expert judges, Villa d'Este also features the "Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este" award, chosen by the votes of guests attending on the public day. This system ensures that both the judges' and the owners'/enthusiasts' perspectives are reflected. Furthermore, it has become customary for the German luxury watch brand A. Lange & Söhne, a partner since 2012, to present a special chronograph to the Best of Show winner, highlighting the connection between automotive and watchmaking culture.
In addition to the Best of Show selected by expert judges, Villa d'Este also features the "Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este" award, chosen by the votes of guests attending on the public day. This system ensures that both the judges' and the owners'/enthusiasts' perspectives are reflected. Furthermore, it has become customary for the German luxury watch brand A. Lange & Söhne, a partner since 2012, to present a special chronograph to the Best of Show winner, highlighting the connection between automotive and watchmaking culture.
Q. What kind of brand is Alpina, which announced the new "Vision BMW ALPINA"?
Alpina originally started as a manufacturer of office equipment, such as typewriters. In the 1960s, it began tuning BMW vehicles, which led to its development as a BMW-certified tuner. In 1983, it was officially registered as an automobile manufacturer. For a long time, it maintained a unique position as an independent high-performance brand based on BMW. However, at the end of 2025, the Alpina trademark was transferred to BMW, and starting in 2026, it will be officially reorganized as "BMW ALPINA." The "Vision BMW ALPINA" unveiled at Lake Como is particularly noteworthy as the first model born under this new structure.
Alpina originally started as a manufacturer of office equipment, such as typewriters. In the 1960s, it began tuning BMW vehicles, which led to its development as a BMW-certified tuner. In 1983, it was officially registered as an automobile manufacturer. For a long time, it maintained a unique position as an independent high-performance brand based on BMW. However, at the end of 2025, the Alpina trademark was transferred to BMW, and starting in 2026, it will be officially reorganized as "BMW ALPINA." The "Vision BMW ALPINA" unveiled at Lake Como is particularly noteworthy as the first model born under this new structure.