CORRIERE D’ELEGANZA IXConcorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022

Dear Friend of the Concorso,

The weekend of 20th to 22nd May 2022 is fast approaching. This is when the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be opening its gates. Once again, the event will attract an international audience to Cernobbio with unique automobile highlights from all over the world.
Tradition has always played a key role here. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este celebrated its premiere as early as 1929. At that time, the grand and renowned coachbuilders were at an initial peak of their creative endeavour – names that remain illustrious to this day. Lake Como offered society’s elite the perfect panorama for conferring awards on the most beautiful of all beautiful automobiles. While back in the day, it was all about contemporary modernity, the focus now is on the great designs of an exciting yesteryear full of variety and diverse styling.

In 2022, we are also celebrating a number of landmark anniversaries. Let’s first look at the original venue, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este itself. This palace was built in the Renaissance as an opulent summer residence. It started life as the seat of a Cardinal and later on even served as an enchanting home for a Princess of Wales. Following this use as a supremely aristocratic residence, the magnificent house was rededicated as a hotel following an extensive refurbishment. It opened as a renowned five-star hotel providing luxury accommodation for the uppermost echelons of society, the nobility and the bourgeoisie. This year, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este will receive its guests for the 150th season. Across all eras, this hotel has the reputation of being unsurpassed as the epitome of stylish ambience in an atmosphere of discreet splendour.

Congratulations are also due this year in the world of the automobile. In 2022, the Ferrari marque will attain half the age of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este. In 1947, the 125 S was the first independent model to roll out of the eminently modest workshop of founder Enzo Ferrari. At the time, the lauded former racing driver was 49 years old and he established a legendary icon that endures to this day. He launched the rapid ascent of the cavallino rampante, as the prancing horse emblem is known in Italian, with technically unique, exceptionally successful sports cars designed for competing in racing campaigns. Glamorous, elegant models soon augmented the portfolio of the coveted brand from Maranello in Italy.

The letter M has proved no less impressive. Every enthusiast knows exactly what it means when it comes to cars. This is a symbol of BMW M GmbH, which was established precisely half a century ago. Right at the beginning in 1972, the word Motorsport was still part of the name for the subsidiary company, in which BMW had bundled its multifaceted ambitions relating to the captivating topic of motor sport. In 1978, the M1 followed with the first thoroughbred M and this remains a fascinating car to this day. The racer proved its great ambitions in motor sport and is now perceived as the foundation stone for a long series of exceptionally successful, powerful and attractive automobiles with inimitable character.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is honouring the two names – Ferrari and BMW M – in its 2022 edition with a class each: “The Cavallino at 75 – Eight Decades of Ferrari represented in eight Icons” goes head-to-head with “50 Years of Mean Machinery – BMW’s M Cars and their ancestors”.

Amid our anticipation, it is a pleasure to say a big Thank You at this point. Our thanks go to a special, very valuable partnership that began in 2012 and is now continuing into its tenth year. Since then, the manufactory A. Lange & Söhne from Glashütte in Saxony has presented a unique watch on the occasion of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este every year. As a masterpiece of artisan craftsmanship, this unique one of one goes to the winner of the trophy for the Best of Show. The timepiece is regarded as a particularly coveted, highly exclusive award.
Our warmest thanks also go to Vranken Pommery, who will once again supply us with exquisite champagne. We would also like to thank wwwe GmbH, the specialists looking after our comprehensive website.

As you can see, we have a lot to celebrate together. We can now look forward to more than 50 classic Historic Cars carefully curated for you with supreme expertise. Each and every one of them is exceptionally elegant while also promising myriad stories full of the passion they bring to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Stay healthy and safe and never lose hope even in these difficult times,
Your Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Team