Does the BMW Zagato have the emotional appeal of a concept car in a road-legal machine, as claimed?
BMW has shown a Zagato bodied Z4 model at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este that likely will see some sort of limited production run. The Concorso on the shores of Lake Como began as a get-together of coachbuilders presenting one-off hand-built creations, but last year an Aston Martin V12 Zagato “concept” shown at Lake Como was eventually approved for a limited production run.
Some of the press photos supplied by BMW were taken at its test track in Germany, a sign that more than one copy of the coupe will soon appear for wealthy buyers.
“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 Coupe fits the same template,” says Dr Andrea Zagato, head of an independent Italian body engineering firm that goes back to the early days of aviation and aerodynamics. Zagato is perhaps best known for its collaboration with Alfa-Romeo, which resulted in a series of stunning and race winning cars before and after the Germans started World War 2.
The BMW car shown this year is said is registered for road use and meets all the legal requirements worldwide. Moreover, Italian designers commissioned by BMW were also responsible for BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale (1959), BMW 700 (1959), BMW 3200 CS Bertone (1962) and BMW M1 (1978). No technical details were provided for the BMW Zagato Coupe.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
