BMW Italy has presented a special-edition M3 Competition to honour late F1 racing driver and gold medal-winning Paralympic cyclist Alex Zanardi.
In honour of Alex Zanardi – Formula 1 racing driver, Paralympic cyclist, and brand ambassador for BMW Italy – who would have turned 60 years old on 23 October, BMW Italy, in collaboration with design studio BorromeodeSilva, has introduced a special-edition M3 Competition sedan. Paying tribute to Zanardi’s contributions to the sporting world, this model features several bespoke exterior and interior design elements.
The special edition’s exterior features a unique white, red and blue livery. The bonnet and front doors feature ’60th’ lettering. A neat inclusion, eagle-eyed readers will spot pineapple elements on the left- and right-hand side C-pillars. The inclusion of the latter is significant, as this fruit was Zanardi’s lucky charm during races. This M3 retains a subtle black body kit and 19-inch front/20-inch rear black alloy wheels, shod in 275/35- and 285/30-size rubber, respectively.
Inside, this model’s seats feature patterning from blue to red, with Zanardi’s pineapple motif etched into the headrests above the ‘M3’ logo. On the Alcantara-trimmed centre armrest, an emblem reading “tributo Alex Zanardi 60” is stitched in red.
Mechanically, this G80-generation M3 Competition remains unchanged and employs the Bavarian brand’s familiar 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, tuned to produce 390 kW and 650 N.m of torque. The former and latter are available from 6 250 and 2 750 r/min, respectively. Power is sent to all four corners via the firm’s eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.
Said Sergio Solero, President and CEO of BMW Italy, “His [Zanardi’s] relationship with BMW has gone from tracks to Paralympic successes to social commitment. Over the years, he has combined his sporting activity with the desire to actively contribute to the creation and development of initiatives capable of generating value for the community.”
