- 140 Years of Innovation: Mercedes-Benz Classic spanned the years from the world’s first automobile to today’s hypercar
- A dozen of the brand’s automotive masterpieces at the historic Villa del Grumello
- FuoriConcorso inspired under the motto “KRAFTMEISTER – Soul of German Craftsmanship”
Stuttgart. From the world’s first automobile to the DTM icon, from the Silver Arrow to the latest hypercar: Mercedes-Benz Classic showcased automotive masterpieces from 140 years of innovation history in a fascinating arc of suspense at the FuoriConcorso 2026 on the shores of Lake Como. The motto of the event organzier: “KRAFTMEISTER – Soul of German Craftsmanship”. FuoriConcorso established itself as a highly attractive date in the calendar of the global classic car scene starting in 2019.
“FuoriConcorso has shown what Mercedes-Benz has epitomised for 140 years: Pioneering spirit, innovation – and craftsmanship at the highest level. Motorsport has always set the pace by pushing courage, speed and technology to the limit. Carl Benz invented the automobile – and thus made individual mobility possible. Many subsequent innovations originate from motor racing. The audience’s reactions encourage us to vividly tell this story.”
Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH
Powerful history at a historic location
From 16 to 17 May 2026, guests were able to experience automotive highlights from 1886 to the present day at two locations on the spacious grounds of the historic Villa del Grumello. Furthermore, Marcus Breitschwerdt enriched the panel talk “German Automotive Craftsmanship: Heritage, Identity and the Future of the Car” on 17 May 2026 at Villa Sucota. High-calibre executives and designers discussed the importance of craftsmanship in today’s automotive industry and how tradition can be a guiding principle.
The world’s first car
Mercedes-Benz vehicles have held leading positions for 140 years without interruption. The starting point in 1886 was the Benz Patent Motor Car with 0.55 kW (0.75 hp) – the world’s very first automobile. In the “Starting Grid”, it evoked the beginning of the automotive age. As a living witness to the times, a faithful replica of the Patent-Motorwagen could be experienced in action. It demonstrated the well-conceived functionality of the technology designed 140 years ago.
Of white elephants and silver arrows
Also in the “Starting Grid”, the Mercedes 120 PS six-cylinder racing car from 1906 was a reminder of the technical breakthrough shortly after the turn of the century, which began in 1900 with the development of the Mercedes 35 PS. This first Mercedes is regarded as the first modern automobile. Another era was represented by a Mercedes-Benz SSK built in 1928: the era of the S-series sports touring cars (W 06), also known as the “White Elephants” because of their paintwork and distinctive supercharger sound. It was followed to Lake Como by the legendary Mercedes-Benz W 125 Silver Arrow. This caused a sensation in the 1937 season with numerous victories and the European Championship title for Rudolf Caracciola.
With gullwing doors into the economic miracle
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) from 1952 represented the boom of the early years of the economic miracle. Mercedes-Benz derived the legendary production vehicle 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198) from this competition vehicle in 1954. In 1955, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), which also won the Mille Miglia, caused a sensation. Mercedes-Benz Classic brought one of these racing sports cars based on the W 196 R Grand Prix racing car of the time to Lake Como. At the FuoriConcorso, the Mercedes-Benz 500 SL “Rallye” (R 107) took us back to more recent times. Developed for the 1981 rally season, this sports car stands for another exciting motorsport discipline in which the brand is repeatedly successful.
Hypercars of this millennium carry tradition into the future
Two hypercars from the new millennium completed the range: a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT built in 2007 comes from the highly exclusive, strictly limited series for racing. Its V8 supercharged engine delivers 500 kW (680 hp). The 722 GT sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds and has a top speed of 337 km/h. A Mercedes-AMG ONE from 2022 in a unique gold-coloured paint finish was also on display. The vehicle fascinates with its drive technology from Formula 1 and a huge system output of 782 kW (1,063 hp) from a 1.6-litre V6 engine and four electric motors. In addition, engine starts of the W 125 and the SLR McLaren 722 GT provided thrilling moments around Villa del Grumello.
Top performer from the “190” family
The vehicles on the “Private Lawn” also proved just how multifaceted motorsport can be. There, three particularly powerful, emotionally appealing variants of the “190” (W 201) focussed on the event theme. The trio consisted of a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution DTM racing touring car with racing ABS (1990), a high-performance Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II Saloon (1990) from the National Motor Museum The Loh Collection and a specimen of the new HWA EVO. This 388 kW (520 hp) car based on the W 201 with a 3-litre V6 engine is the latest design to show how the fascination of the EVO and EVO II can be continued into the present day. The HWA EVO is being produced in a small series of 100 units.
