Cars

The black car looked ‘striking’, shall we say, with 1950s ‘Bat Car’ styling influences much in evidence.

The previous collaboration had already proved the success of the synergy between the Bavarian giant and the esteemed Italian coachbuilder – in fact, the result was finished so well that both companies received many enquiries regarding the estimated production date, despite it still being in its conceptual stage.

Finished in a special ‘Aviator Grey’, each Coupé will receive a suite of exclusive design concepts, interior colour combinations and new materials. Many of the details are said to be inspired by Charles Stewart Rolls – co-founder of the company but also himself a pioneer of aviation – along with the Supermarine S6B seaplane, which won the Schneider Trophy in 1931 with its famous Rolls-Royce V12 engine.

That’s not to say that the great Texan’s arch rival Ferrari wasn’t present in force. Particularly at the auctions, where RM’s quite delicious 250 GT Tour de France, together with a host of other Ferraris including the mighty 410 S Berlinetta we drove only recently, wowed one and all.

Clearly based on the Zagato Coupé which debuted at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in May, the mysteriously dark teaser image depicts a roadster with muscular haunches that just about catch the light. The open-topped car’s purposeful stance is reminiscent of the coupé concept, which was designed by the in-house BMW team led by Adrian van Hooydonk, in partnership with the Zagato design chief Norihiko Harada in Italy, and showcased the trademark Zagato double-bubble roof and distinctive Kamm tail.