BMW Shaping up the M1

[maxbhp]

The BMW M1 is back! Well, sort of. This is the M1 Hommage, a concept study unveiled and organised by BMW at the Concorso d'Eleganza di Villa d'Este 2008 this weekend. The where?
The Villa d'Este is an upmarket little concourse on the banks of Lake Como. The sort of place, in fact, that you'd expect to find a mint 1978 M1, so just the sort of place to introduce this to concept celebrating the 30th anniversary of the original M1.
With similar proportions to the original M1 - though with a longer wheelbase - the Hommage sits wide and low, and frankly looks a little bit scary. Sinister, even. In a nod to the M1's flip-up headlights, the four headlights hide behind the front fascia, meaning they're near-invisible until lit.
More echoes of the Seventies icon can be seen in the slatted rear deck and bonnet vents, but that strange love-it-or-hate-it 'flame surfacing' is pure modern Bangle styling. There are, of course, the standard high-concept touches - tiny wing mirrors, invisible door handles, oversized shiny alloys...
So is this the forerunner for the much-rumoured mid-engined competitor to the Audi R8? Erm, no. Sorry. BMW is at pains to point out that the Hommage is a mere design exercise in celebration of an icon, and makes no mention of even theoretical powertrains or, in fact, any technical details of any kind.
We reckon the 4.2-litre V8 from the M3 would fit rather nicely under that rear deck, BMW. Just a suggestion...

Courtesy- Top gear UK
Original Link - News - Top Gear

[Mayavi]

It looks like a CG to me.

[iraghava]

It's an actual concept & boy does it look stunning or what!!

[v1p3r]

It's a CG, and it appears to be running Dunlop SP 9000s.

Looks mean mean mean though.

[Cyrus43]

AHH..Superb Old Skool BMW design with Crappy BMW New Skool design. What a waste.

[maxbhp]

At the Villa d'€™Este Concours, BMW ignited passion for its heritage by reincarnating the seminal M1. The new design was shown at a private party over the weekend to generate interest in the program. It was placed alongside an original M1 as well as the 1972 Turbo Concept.

Thirty years ago BMW boldly entered the supercar market with the M1. Being a production racing car, it was a huge leap forward in both engineering and style. Thus, the M1 became an icon of BMW performance in the seventies. But it also became a singularity, since the cars relatively poor performance in motor sport hindered the prospects for a successor.

Reviving names of past models and modernizing them for the current market is a delicate balance. Considerations have to be made for safety, increased performance and retro styling as well as keeping the dedicated enthusiasts onboard. BMW are no strangers to retro design, their revival of the Mini has been a large success. This is contrasted by the new one-series and their romantic comparison to the 2002. The latest name that faces BMW designers is the M1.

The scope of the new M1 project is uncertain, but BMW are dedicated enough to champion the new visual design. At the Villa d’Este Concours they showed a non-functional styling buck, with no engine and interior, but with working lights and steering.

Like the original, the new M1 project is sleek, wide and ahead of its time. The car is painted a brilliant hue of metallic bronze, just like the first M1 prototype of 1972.

The 2008 M1’s styling is a new direction for BMW and a departure from Chris Bangle’s flame surfacing that changed the entire BMW line. Now we have more purposeful lines, a void of extraneous curves and a more purposeful stance. BMW said this was a new direction that would trickle down to all BMW models.

When revealed to our photographer, Matteo TT Schucchi, his first impression was that “pictures can't really show the real presence, but it really is amazing, with some incredible lines, and definitely a great modern interpretation of the M1.”

Next week the car will be officially unveiled by Auto Bild and BMW themselves.

Story by Richard Owen

Original link BMW M1 Concept - Supercars.net

[Rotorhead]

Whoa...this one is one helluva looker...the rims look out of place though.

[hmishra83]

What is this thing??? Will it ever make it to production soon (2010ish)...I doubt! Anywa, I like the hood and the headlights...its a big change from the regular BMW looks. The Kidney Grill still remains in some way though and that keeps me happy

[iraghava]

Nice CG work in that museum display!

[ramie2400]

Looks stunning,but does not have better curves as compared to the old models.

[Nitin]

Boy!! Thats one radical machine.Haven't seen wheels like those.
Wonder where this one will head.

[jesal]

im wondering where bmw got this 2 ring kinda grille idea from. man they never thought they will be such a success

[CaliforniaKnight]

BMW was supposed to make a supercar.. will this be it?
Dont think so,,because they wont leak it this much..

BTW, the M1 the only mid engined supercar made by BMW in its 9 decade of auto manufacturing is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Nice CG work in that museum display!

Ishan, you misunderstand me. The car may be a reality, but some of the pictures posted here are photochopped, in that the car and the background weren't shot together. Look at the first pic in the first post. You can't see the bottom half of the rear bumper, yet you can clearly see the colour on the inside of the rear right wheel.

[ramie2400]

did anyone noticed in the first pic it has 2 x BMW logo's now thats whacky