CLASSIC CARS.
Today's new concept cars are all inevitably oriented towards electric propulsion, but in the 1990s the ultimate aspiration was prototypes powered by mighty V12 engines.
Between 1991 and 1993, the collaboration between BMW and Italdesign created no less than three of them, bearing the evocative Nazca name.
And in 1993, during the Monaco Grand Prix, Italdesign showed a new model in spider configuration, called the C2 Spider, obtained by removing the side windows and rear window and fitting a new 5660 cc, 380 hp BMW V12 engine (that of the BMW 850 CSi), mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
New concept cars today are all inevitably oriented towards electric propulsion, but in the 1990s the ultimate aspiration was prototypes powered by mighty V12 engines. Between 1991 and 1993, the collaboration between BMW and Italdesign created no less than three of them, bearing the evocative Nazca name.
In 1993, during the Monaco Grand Prix, Italdesign showed the third model of the BMW Nazcar in convertible configuration, called the C2 Spider. Actually a T-Top with a fixed body-color frame and removable windows for storage in the trunk.
BMW's V12 engine became visible, protected by a transparent cover and no longer opaque. It was the 5.6-liter, 380-hp V12 from the BMW 850 CSi.
Engineers had also installed a new 6-speed transmission capable of coping with the extra power of the Roadster version, with the BMW M12 and BMW C2 Coupé both using a 5-speed gearbox instead.
Of the three Nazca concept cars, only the C2 Coupé version had a following, albeit limited to just three examples requested by special buyers. However, the BMW Nazcar C2 (the first of the three from 1991) can be driven virtually thanks to its inclusion in certain video games. Especially Need for Speed II: SE and in Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit.