Author: Khris Bharath
Photos: Nikos Karampotis
Whether you are a collector, a historian, or simply someone who admires classic and vintage cars, the annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has got to be one of the top events to watch on the motoring calendar. Alongside Monterey Car Week and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it represents one of the most prestigious stages in the automotive world. But beyond classics, these days, the event has evolved to host everything from product unveilings to futuristic concept cars.
Held each year in May on the banks of the picturesque Lake Como in northern Italy, it has been organized by BMW Group Classic in partnership with the Villa d’Este hotel for the past two decades. What began in 1929 as a showcase of coachbuilt excellence has now grown into a global phenomenon.
This year’s edition, which ran from the 23rd to the 25th of May, once again delivered an exceptional blend of elegance, innovation, and nostalgia in equal measure. A weekend’s worth of supporting spectacles that now includes a public day at Villa Erba, a parallel event known as Fuori Concorso, and a live auction hosted by Broad Arrow for the first time, our cameras were on site to capture all the action as it unfolded.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2025: Iconic Classics, Concept Cars and World Premieres
The manicured lawns and terraces of Villa d’Este played host to a curated selection of 50 hand-picked automobiles, judged across eight classes. You had everything from pre-war beauties to several iconic 60s, including models from brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley and Jaguar. Single seaters, tailfins, Kamm tails, you had it all.
Coming to the more modern variety, some of the highlights include a BMW M1, a pair of Ferrari legends: F40 and F50, a McLaren F1 GTR in Franck Mueller livery, and a low-slung Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster were on site. At the other end of the spectrum, Lotus showed off its futuristic Theory 1 concept.
The competition over the weekend was undoubtedly fierce but tasteful. A 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3), formerly run by Scuderia Ferrari, that dates back to the early days of Grand Prix racing, ultimately won the Trofeo BMW Group for Best of Show. The public, meanwhile, crowned a 1957 BMW 507 with the Coppa d’Oro, solidifying its status as one of the most elegant open-top roadsters of the 20th century.
Beyond the awards, BMW was in full force, celebrating a slew of milestones, including 85 years of the 1940 Mille Miglia icons, 70 years of the 503, 507, and the Isetta, and finally 50 years of the 3 Series. There were 16 green examples of E36 M3s on site. The German marque also unveiled the sleek Speedtop concept, a three-door shooting brake wagon; the carbon-clad Concept RR that showcases the next generation of motorcycles from its Motorrad division; and a production version of the M2 CS.
The renowned Italian coachbuilder unveiled two special cars: the M4-based Bovensiepen with Alpina roots and the one-off Alfa Romeo 8C Doppiacoda. Both cars feature Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof. Rolls-Royce made its presence felt yet again this year with its stately ‘Phantom Goldfinger.’ Complete with 18-carat gold detailing, it’s a one-off commission unveiled to mark a century of Phantom models.
Fuori Concorso 2025: A Celebration of Italian Speed and Motorsport Heritage
While the Villa d’Este remains a highly exclusive and elegant affair, the Fuori Concorso (May 24-25), across the lake at Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucato, is far more approachable. Organized by Guglielmo Miani since 2019, this event has steadily grown over time, and this year’s theme of “Velocissimo” meant the event played host to fast, emotionally charged, and Italian cars (for the most part) and was just a short boat ride away on one of the many wood-decked Rivas, swiftly traversing the glistening waters of Lago di Como.
The variety of cars on display was once again pretty spectacular, ranging from classics to modern-day exotics. Motorsports fans in particular were treated to an open-air grid walk of sorts with single-seaters and racing prototypes from the likes of Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and even Lamborghini’s often-forgotten foray into grand prix racing.
Classic Ferraris like the 275, 250 GTO Short Wheel Base, a green Ferrari 250 LM, and a rare 1950s 166 MM Uovo, coach-built by Carrozzeria Fontana, were joined by the Italian marque’s modern-day 499 Hybrid racer, that once again triumphed at Le Mans in 2025.
Alfa Romeo rolled up with a stunning selection of coach-built classics, touring cars, and the limited-run modern-day reincarnation of the iconic Tipo 33 Stradale of the 1960s. Maserati brought along its latest MC20 Extrema and the wild MC12 Versione Corse. Rally fans were treated to a wide array of Lancias, from the Delta and the 037 in Martini colors to the mighty Stratos in the iconic Alitalia livery.
Lamborghini also had a bright yellow Diablo SV Modificata and a stunning red open-top Bizzarrini that featured a V12 from the Raging Bull brand instead of a V8. Rounding up the Italian lineup was the track-focused Pagani Huayra Imola.
Elsewhere, Mercedes showcased three cars: road-going and race versions of the CLK GTR and Sauber C13, which were craned into position. Porsche showed one of its latest limited-edition heritage-inspired 911s, the Spirit 70 Cabriolet, alongside the ever-popular 992 S/T. Even the German-made all-electric Vanwall made an appearance, with modern lines that are more in sync with a Delta Integrale.
Finally, there was no shortage of restomod action from the likes of several boutique manufacturers like Kimera, Totem, Gemballa and Nardone showcasing their latest creations.
Broad Arrow Auctions Add New Energy to Lake Como Weekend
Beyond the cars, art and culture also played a significant role this year, with the likes of Dylan Don’s photographic exhibition that saw the car and fashion worlds merging. Breitling displayed its top-tier chronographs, and Porsche Design offered personalized timepieces.
The inaugural Broad Arrow Auctions sale brought another layer of excitement this year. As the official auction partner of the Concorso d’Eleganza, Broad Arrow hosted two days of bidding. Saturday night was BMW-focused, with highlights including a 1958 BMW 507, a 1981 BMW, and a pristine Z8. Sunday saw a record-setting sale when the hammer dropped at €7.54 million ($8.70 million) for a 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa. A Honda NSX-R also broke records, selling for an impressive €934,375 (~$1.08 million). In total, the Broad Arrow auction weekend at Villa d’Este saw €31 million ($35.76 million), with 78 percent of lots selling.
Overall, both Villa d’Este and Fuori Concorso had an outstanding lineup of cars this year and continue to grow not just as events but as keystones that represent the evolution of the automobile and the rich culture that surrounds it.
