2011 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Lake Como

Photographer Henrik Jauert has ventured back to the shores of Lake Como for the annual glorification of the classic car. The BMW-sponsored Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este has evolved into a social high point and an automotive blender, with the very best examples of classics from decades past and their contemporary rivals on show.

This year the classics were easily matched by modern metal, especially with two major launches by Aston Martin and BMW to feast upon. The former marked the event by exhibiting the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, an exotically re-bodied version of its classic high performance coupe. Celebrating the long-standing collaboration between Italian styling house Zagato and strictly limited run race and collectors’ edition Astons, the new V12 Zagato will make its public debut on a real race track when it tackles the notorious Nurburgring 24 hour race later this month. In the meantime, the concept was awarded first prize in the prestigious ’Concept Cars and Prototypes’ category.

BMW chose the 75th anniversary of its classic 328 model to unveil the 328 Hommage, a fearsome ultra-light sports concept that takes styling elements from its 1930 inspiration and mixes them with modern materials and minimal detailing that strips BMW’s design language back to the bare basics.