Imagine a convertible ride along a scenic coastline: the wind in your hair, the salty scent of the sea, and speed defying time and its rules. your gaze is shielded by a pair of sunglasses, filtering light yet allowing you to bask in its warm reflections. Could anything be more seductive? or evoke a greater sense of freedom? Perhaps this is why the bond between motoring and eyewear grows ever stronger.

A relationship rooted in the 1920s, when the automobile was the preserve of an elite. Far beyond mere transportation, it was chiefly a way to flaunt prestige, a desire to stand apart, a desire also achieved even through motoring accessories such as glasses, which protected but, above all, narrated a lifestyle. The 1920s were pioneering years, when the aesthetics of speed began to mirror those of fashion and its most functional elements. Protection, yes, but with elegance: large lenses, sturdy frames designed to endure while underlining an attitude. The engineering principles of motorsport seeped into eyewear design, suggesting aerodynamic lines, ergonomic silhouettes and profiles destined to become iconic. Consider names such as Porsche or Carrera: the collective perception fuses cars and sunglasses so tightly it is difficult to separate the two worlds. An overlap that, in Carrera’s case, traces back to the legendary Carrera Panamericana, one of the most thrilling and perilous road races ever held, staged in Mexico in the early 1950s. over 2,000 miles of extreme racecourse which, despite the dangers, was a magnet for drivers and enthusiasts worldwide.

So much so that Wilhelm Anger renamed his eyewear company ‘Carrera’ in 1956. Indeed, it is rare to find a luxury car marque that has not, over time, sought to extend its DNA into eyewear, transferring lines, materials and design philosophy from bonnet to bridge. Among the latest to decisively cross this threshold is Bugatti. The ultimate symbol of automotive excellence, the brand entered the eyewear arena in 2023, immediately charting a course beyond seasonal trends. Today, with its third collection, Bugatti Eyewear inaugurates a new stylistic chapter. The product of two years’ development and meticulous design refinement, the style evolves decisively, blending engineering rigour and creative vision into a portfolio exploring the boundaries between technical precision, sculpture and rarity. The limited-edition Tourbillon model is exemplary: a 3D-printed titanium sunglasses frame inspired by the rear silhouette of its eponymous hypercar. only 100 pieces will be distributed worldwide, each housed in a carbon-fibre case enclosing a 3D-printed box whose design echoes the car’s suspension system.

This venture underscores just how the dialogue engaged in between cars and glasses today is of multiple levels: luxury and engineering, craftsmanship and innovation, memory and foresight. It is therefore no surprise that the present is continually transcended to celebrate a mythical past. Brett Eyewear, the French brand dedicated to recounting the feats – real or imagined – of drivers and heroes who defied rules and conventions, renews its partnership with Peter Auto for Le Mans Classic, the world’s largest vintage racing car gathering. The result is a new titanium frame equipped with patented interchangeable clip-ons: versatile, functional, perfectly aligned with automotive engineering aesthetics and conceived for a contemporary, dynamic and essential lifestyle. Today’s eyewear enriches itself with hi-tech materials and intelligent solutions designed to ensure comfort, lightness and protection – much like the interiors of high-performance vehicles.

Meanwhile, the automotive-eyewear bond increasingly champions environmental awareness: the green innovation of the car industry inspires the use of recycled materials and sustainable production processes. Frames made from regenerated materials, innovative components and eco-friendly solutions sketch the future of a sector where aesthetics and responsibility advance hand in hand. A commitment shared by brands such as ic! berlin, now signing its sixth collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. The performance of AMG vehicles translates into essential, lightweight and high-performing lines. The AMG 19 Shield, crafted from Flexarbon – an ultra- strong, flexible material – is a case in point. Demonstrating that the balance between technology and beauty is no longer a goal but a given. What once seemed an aspirational intersection of two worlds is now a shared road. Sustainability, innovation and sophistication have become the core drivers of this evolving alliance. Three forces in motion, like the finest engines, powering the next generation of styles.