Whether a futuristic tribute to the historic IMSA champion BMW 3.0 CSL or a spectacularly designed model like the BMW M1 Hommage. Whether a hybrid sports car that seemed to come straight from the future such as the BMW Vision M Next or the visionary technology and design study BMW Turbo: in the development workshops of BMW M and BMW Individual, fascinating one-off models have repeatedly been developed, some conceived as tributes to BMW classics, others as development mule and precursors to later production vehicles. We present seven unique design studies from BMW M.
DRIVING WEDGE: BMW TURBO.
DRIVING WEDGE: BMW TURBO.
The BMW Turbo was the first concept car ever built by BMW – and proved to be groundbreaking. The engineers packed every technology available in 1972 into the elegant bodywork, which, thanks to its distinctive wedge shape designed by Paul Bracq, already looked like an automotive messenger from the future. Among the innovations – such as the eye-catching gullwing doors – were, above all, sophisticated safety technology, including shock-absorbing bumpers and radar sensors for distance warning. There was also a powerful turbo engine that produced 147 kW (200 hp) from a 2.0-litre displacement and four cylinders; a figure that could be boosted to a full 206 kW (280 hp) by increasing the boost pressure. With a kerb weight of just 980 kilograms, this was good for a top speed of 250 km/h and a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds – figures that were considered almost unreal at the time. The BMW Turbo’s cockpit was reminiscent of an aircraft cockpit. Its wide array of instruments, including displays for monitoring tyre pressure or headlight function, resembles today’s digital displays.
The BMW Turbo became a milestone in BMW design. It demonstrated new possibilities and solutions that were later carried over into production models. One supercar that drew clear inspiration from it was the BMW M1, which went into production six years later.
BMW M1 HOMMAGE.
BMW M1 HOMMAGE.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1, a design study paying homage to the legendary supercar was unveiled at the 2008 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este: the BMW M1 Hommage. Giorgio Giugiaro’s BMW M1 was a car of superlatives, emotional yet uncompromisingly geared towards motorsport. The BMW M1 Hommage captured this quality and technologically carried it over into the present.
Every detail served a purpose. Aerodynamics, cooling air flow and safety defined the technical substance of the vehicle. The signature BMW kidney grille thus became an integral part of the sophisticated aerodynamics, whilst the chassis of the design study – similar to a monocoque frame of a Formula 1 race car – significantly reduced the impact forces on the passenger cell in the event of a crash.
The BMW M1 Hommage was a tribute to the BMW M1. And just as the BMW M1 did influence the design of the Hommage vehicle many years later, the BMW M1 Hommage in turn did influence a subsequent vehicle: the BMW i8. The hybrid sports car, produced between 2013 and 2020, adopted numerous design features such as the sophisticated aerodynamics and the striking rear light design.
BMW 3.0 CSL HOMMAGE R.
BMW 3.0 CSL HOMMAGE R.
Forty years after BMW Motorsport made its debut in North American racing with the BMW 3.0 CSL and shook up the rankings in the IMSA series, BMW paid tribute to this historic triumph with a spectacular design study: the BMW 3.0 CSL R. Every detail on the exterior visibly drew its inspiration from the successful 1975 racing version; even the number 25 and the ‘Bavarian Motor Works’ decals were retained, whilst the overall design of the concept car was translated into a modern design language. Technologically, the homage vehicle was geared towards the future.
In the cockpit of the BMW 3.0 CSL R, the unity of driver and vehicle has been reimagined. The dashboard consists of a minimalist display and a compact, rectangular steering wheel, while the visor in the driver’s helmet takes over the standard display functions and projects information such as speed, gear and revs directly into the driver’s field of vision.
For the interior and exterior design, extensive use of visible carbon fibre emphasised the consistent lightweight construction philosophy of the original model and brought it into the present day in terms of materials technology. The great engineering feat that made BMW a household name across North America in 1975 – over the course of just one racing season – therefore shone in new splendour 40 years later.
BMW 2002 HOMMAGE.
BMW 2002 HOMMAGE.
Fifty years after the end of the legendary BMW 2002 series era, one of the most significant vehicles in the BMW history was honoured with a special design study: the BMW 2002 Hommage. This one-off model pays particular tribute to the pioneer of turbocharging in a production car, the BMW 2002 turbo. Built between 1973 and 1975, this classic is regarded as one of the vehicles that made the brand what it is today. The striking design of the BMW 2002 Hommage pays tribute to one of the most iconic vehicles in the BMW history by drawing on and reinterpreting its design language.
Taking its cue from the characteristic wraparound chrome strip of the original 02 series, a horizontal carbon strip encircled the BMW 2002 Hommage. The voluminously moulded wheel arches were a nod to the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, on which extra-wide extensions had been bolted onto the bodywork due to the significantly wider track. The most visible – or legible – reference to its forebearer was found on the front apron of the Hommage vehicle in the form of BMW Motorsport colours featuring the legendary ‘turbo’ lettering in mirror writing. This made the design study more than just a tribute to its namesake: the BMW 2002 Hommage is the modern interpretation of the Ultimate Driving Machine.
BMW CONCEPT M8 GRAN COUPÉ.
BMW CONCEPT M8 GRAN COUPÉ.
In 2018, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupé impressively demonstrated what the letter “M” stands for at BMW: the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupé symbolises a new, unique interpretation of luxury and performance. BMW M aimed at taking luxury out of its comfort zone.
The flat, wide front immediately hinted at the extraordinary driving performance of this elegant four-door model, as did the numerous CFRP components. The long wheelbase, long bonnet, flowing roofline and short rear end create an elegant, sporty coupé silhouette, while the rear view highlighted the flared wheel arches and once again emphasised the powerful stance.
In doing so, the design study established the defining features that would characterise the BMW M8 upon its market launch.
BMW VISION M NEXT.
BMW VISION M NEXT.
In 2019, BMW M unveiled the spectacular concept for its hybrid sports car, the BMW Vision M NEXT. With a host of innovative technologies, the concept offered a glimpse into the future of sporty driving. The low-slung body with short overhangs and gullwing doors drew inspiration from the BMW Turbo and the BMW M1, which were also pioneers of modern mobility in their day. Design, autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and easily accessible services were at the heart of the concept car’s development.
The concept car offers a glimpse of a mobile future in which both autonomous and self-driving experiences are set to be purer and more emotional than ever before. The BMW Vision M NEXT lives up to this promise with an emotive exterior design and astonishing dynamic driving potential. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, combined with the electric drive, generates a system output of 441 kW (600 hp), enabling the futuristic vehicle to reach a top speed of 300 km/h. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes a mere 3 seconds.
BMW CONCEPT XM.
BMW CONCEPT XM.
In 2021, M GmbH made its first appearance at the prestigious Art Basel Miami Beach to present a vehicle. The choice of exhibit turned the event into an unforgettable premiere: the BMW Concept XM impressed with its expressive design and offered a glimpse of the most powerful BMW M car ever built as a series model, which entered production the following year. The newly developed M Hybrid drivetrain of the BMW Concept XM combined a V8 engine with a high-performance electric motor, generating a maximum system output of 550 kW (750 hp) and a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. The concept’s maturity was evident in the fact that both the bodywork and the powertrain were largely carried over from the production model.
The BMW Concept XM also unveiled the new front-end design of the future BMW luxury class for the first time. The innovative division of the front lights into two separate modules created an expressive appearance. To this end, the BMW kidney grille was also reinterpreted. Positioned between the headlights, it tapered outwards and, with its almost octagonal contour, lent the front of the vehicle a distinctive, dynamic character. The striking contour lighting of the kidney grille further emphasised the character of the BMW Concept XM.
In doing so, the concept car set the tone for power and luxury beyond all conventions, which was later adopted by the series production model and impressively put into practice.
