Photo credit: ItalDesign | Sebastiano Ciarcia
Back in the early ‘90s, BMW and Italdesign dropped the Nazca C2. Fast forward to 2025, and Italian designer Sebastiano Ciarcia has revived that magic with the BMW Ethos, a digital concept that gives a big nod to the Nazca C2 while adding a fresh, modern twist.
Ciarcia, who’s worked his design wizardry at Alfa Romeo, Rimac, and Volvo, pours his heart into the Ethos. It keeps that low, mean stance of the Nazca C2 but trades those sharp ‘90s angles for smooth, flowing curves that almost seem to breathe. The C2’s wedge shape gets updated with a softer, sleeker , and more planted look. Say goodbye to those retro pop-up headlights—now you’ve got a full-width LED light bar. The glass roof, a throwback to the C2’s see-through top, keeps things open and airy while rocking modern materials for a super clean, polished feel.
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Underneath, the Ethos ditches the Nazca C2’s roaring 5.0-liter V12 for a fuel-cell electric (FCEV) setup, making a bold jump into the future. While the C2’s 300 horsepower growled through a five-speed manual, the Ethos brings zero-emission power that can hang with today’s wildest hypercars. Ciarcia’s vision meshes perfectly with BMW’s hydrogen tech experiment. With a slick active rear wing and aero tweaks, it’s ready to channel the C2’s race-ready spirit for a new generation.
Inside, the Ethos channels the Nazca C2’s no-frills, driver-first cockpit but jazzes it up with 21st-century flair. The C2 kept things raw with analog dials and a straightforward layout; Ciarcia reimagines that with a clean digital dashboard that blends simplicity with BMW’s latest iDrive tech. Lightweight carbon fiber and recycled composites nod to the C2’s cutting-edge construction, making the Ethos feel both luxe and purpose-driven.
The Ethos pulls inspiration beyond just the Nazca C2, weaving in hints of the BMW i8’s hybrid smarts and the 2019 Vision M Next’s electrified grit. Yet, it stands out as its own beast, blending those influences into something that feels like it could roll off a BMW line tomorrow—if the execs give it the green light.
The Nazca C2 never made it to production, sunk by the economic realities of its time. The Ethos, still a concept, lands in a moment when BMW M is hinting at a new halo car, maybe even inspired by the original M1. With the Skytop’s 50 units selling out at $500,000 a pop, it’s clear people are hungry for exclusive BMWs. Ciarcia’s Ethos taps into that craving, delivering a mix of nostalgia and forward-thinking flair.
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