BMW selected a trio of design greats to compete in this yr'south Mille Miglia. Head of BMW Group Design Adrian van Hooydonk and Swiss industrial designer Alfredo Häberli took part in the world's nigh renowned archetype machine rally in a white BMW 328, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Ane of virtually 400 participating teams, the duo set out from Brescia in northern Italy on 12 May. Following staging posts in Bologna and Rome, the squad cleared the finish ramp in Brescia on 15 May.

Designer duo in a celebrated racer

Adrian van Hooydonk, who had already taken function in last year's race, was specially happy near his co-driver for 2011: "I have long admired Alfredo Häberli for his design way – refined, unpretentious, with sense of humour and a fine sense of item." Van Hooydonk and Häberli have known each other for many years and enjoy a professional exchange that is mutually inspiring and opens up new avenues for both.

P90076561 655x436 Their interest in the rally prompted van Hooydonk to commission his colleague to design a leather jacket especially for the Mille Miglia 2011. The model created past Häberli features a classically clear silhouette that draws attending to the high-grade leather, discreet stand-up collar and elaborately detailed workmanship. The timelessly modern and functional blueprint of the jacket is representative of Häberli's creative approach, which in hereafter will increasingly focus on interpreting classics. "I'm glad we were able to test Häberli'due south Mille Miglia jacket during the rally," notes van Hooydonk. "Information technology proved to exist highly practical and shows the professional skill of its designer." The jacket was made by leather specialists Meindl in an sectional edition of just two.

"For me the race was a offset," said Häberli, a keen motor sport fan since childhood. "I was particularly delighted to be driving in the Mille Miglia with Adrian van Hooydonk. Plus, it was a tremendous opportunity to become a close-up wait at the many classics taking part. They all combine emotion with functionality – two criteria on which I also place neat value." Häberli'due south latest cosmos bears out his words – the Mille Miglia jacket not only looks groovy but also features "invisible" details such as an integral, adjustable kidney protector. Completing the series are an every bit practical weekend bag and a garment bag.

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BMW 328: 75 years of the illustrious sports car

The BMW 328 is a motoring legend, its claim to fame not least as the nearly successful sports car of the 1930s. To mark this accomplishment BMW fielded 12 models in this year's rally. Commencement built in 1936 and making its debut as a snow-white roadster, the BMW 328 is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. Even decades later, this open-elevation two-seater draws adoration for its timeless beauty. Like barely another car of its era it embodies aesthetics, dynamics and innovation – values which BMW upholds to this solar day.

Mille Miglia: the legendary thousand miles

The Mille Miglia classic rally covers a distance of i,000 miles ("mille miglia" in Italian) – or around one,600 km – from Brescia to Rome and back. The original route race, commencement held in 1927, was geared to speed until its last staging in 1957. Following a long interval information technology was revived in 1977 on an annual basis, featuring celebrated automobiles and focusing on disciplines such as regularity and reliability. Every year hundreds of thousands of spectators follow this celebrated parade with its participants from around the globe. In 2011 the first two 24-hour interval stages covered a route from Brescia via Ferrara and Bologna to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. The third day saw the classic cars return to the starting point of Brescia via Siena and Florence.

About Adrian van Hooydonk

Senior Vice President BMW Group Design since 2009, responsible for the design of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. Built-in in Kingdom of the netherlands in 1964, he studied industrial design at Delft Polytechnic Academy and then automotive blueprint at the Art Heart Europe in Vevey, Switzerland. With groundbreaking concept cars such as the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, van Hooydonk points to the time to come of mobility.

Nigh Alfredo Häberli

Alfredo Häberli has been role of the international production designer aristocracy for many years. Born in Buenos Aires in 1964, he moved to Switzerland in 1977, where he graduated from Zurich's School of Design. The hallmarks of his design are traditional besides every bit innovative elements, ofttimes distinguished past playfully emotional touches. Häberli is seen as a versatile designer who regularly surprises with his novel ideas. He works for companies such as Alias, Camper, Iittala, Kvadrat, Luceplan and Moroso.

[Source: BMW ]