Auto Design

BMW M 1 Hommage

By Giancarlo Perini © – Photo: Archivio Perini ©

From Car Styling magazine, issue 185 – July 2008.

The Concorso d’Eleganza di Villa d’Este is absolutely about elegant life-style, friendly personal relations, heritage and – under the BMW drive – design. Here automotive beauties from the past meet the concept cars and design studies of the future. In few words, Como, Villa d’Este and the “Concorso d’Eleganza” were the perfect backdrop for the unveiling of the 2008 BMW M1 Homage. On the other hand, it is only natural that the opportunity to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the iconic 1978 BMW M1 was not missed by the German company that keeps supporting in every way the event. In fact, they did not miss the chance and unveiled, with a very surprising move, their BMW M1 Hommage design study.

The simple and short ceremony took place before dinner, just as the sun was setting down on Lake Como. The latest design work from Munich was not alone on the stage, next to it there were the 1972 BMW Turbo designed by the talented French design director Paul Bracq on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Munich, and the BMW M1 which design, engineering and production was assigned to Giorgetto Giugiaro and Italdesign by BMW for the than young BMW Motorsport division. The car was originally meant to race in Group 5 championships but the rules changed during its development and eventually was forced to race in Group 4. BMW choose to race his car in a very spectacular PRO CAR championship they promoted. Famous F1 and other top drivers drove the cars on the eve of F1 racing events. Famous racing heroes of the BMW M1 were Nelson Piquet, Elio De Angelis and Niki Lauda, to name just a few. The M1 for the race had 470 HP. Through four years of production, between 1978 and 1981, BMW built 456 cars, 400 were for the road and 56 were further developed for track racing.

Both versions were very distinctive for its very typical face, thin and wide, just like the 2008 M1 Hommage.The 1972 “E25” BMW Turbo was propelled by a 2.0 litre (1990 cc) turbocharged engine with 280 hp at 5200 rpm. Six years later, the street legal M1 was equipped with a modern six cylinder in line, 24 valves, 3.5 litre engine delivering 377 HP at 6500 rpm. This was enough to claim a top speed of 0f 262 kph and zero to 100-kph acceleration time of 5.6 seconds.

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The BMW M1 was an utterly uncompromising super sports car expressing and disseminating passion. Its forerunner, the BMW Turbo, displayed innovative technical solutions in a very emotional design. It is precisely this blend of technology and design, rationality and passion, which the BMW M1 Homage is all about. Today’s M1 Hommage has not powertrain yet, but its motor is the passion for automotive design and heritage. According to Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW Group Board Member, in charge of Technical and Product Development: «For BMW, heritage is always also a living heritage. Drawing inspiration from your own past and thereby reinventing yourself – that is exactly what the BMW M1 Hommage demonstrates in impressive style. ».

There is no question that the mid-engined BMW of the third millennium comes with style, a lot of style; and – as typical with BMW since the 7 series – even some controversial area, as it ought to be a research and experimental work.

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In this respect, a look to what Lexus are doing with their LF A project, shows that in car design, there are many answers to one question and that success actually is a matter of choice among different opportunities. To design the M1 Hommage was certainly a long awaited and desired opportunity for many designers at BMW.

This is what Adrian van Hooydonk, Director Design BMW Automobiles, said when we asked the very simple question of telling us what the M1 Hommage was all about.«First I have to say that the BMW M1 Homage clearly demonstrates the creativity and potential of the BMW Design team and I think that a project such as this one, is a valuable source of inspiration for our day-to-day work.»Adrian went on saying: «Having said this, I can tell you that we were very excited with the perspective of doing this.» «Ever since I joined BMW Design, the M1 has always been in the back of my mind because to me it was really unique, for its mid-engine layout and its straight, and yet very emotional, design.».

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For us, as car designers, mid-engine cars are exciting to do as they tend to be spectacular, but the proportions but are not always easy. Actually, the proportions are really a challenge in mid-engine car. The most common outcome is a cab-forward design architecture. This is all right in general but not really fitting with BMW. When you look at the original M1 it is not a “cab forward” design, actually the cabin is pulled back, with a very long hood at the front and there are very few mid-engine car with this sort of proportions. I also find the M1 very spectacular, even though there are cars that are wider, lower. The M1 makes a very strong and a very clear statement. Naturally, we had also in our mind (and in our hearths) the “Turbo” by Paul Bracq, a very exciting and emotional design that still looks futuristic today.

The M1 Hommage has been designed to pay respect to those two fantastic designs, in the first place. However, we – as a different generation of designers – we also wanted to add something contemporary or may be something for the far future. We hope to have done that and that this Hommage will stand the test of time. »

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