BMW unveils the M1 Homage concept at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, Italy

30 April 2008

Mumbai: BMW Group Designworks unveiled the new concept M1 Homage the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2008 concept car show in Lake Como, Italy, to mark the 30th anniversary of the legendary super-sports car BMW M1.

The new concept showcased in liquid orange colour scheme is a tribute to BMWs previous sports models - BMW Turbo and BMW M1. The exterior dimensions has been retained from the original M1, designed by Italian stylist Giorgio Giugiaro. However, the wheelbase has been extended indicating a larger passenger cell.

Other specific styling similarities adopted from the BMW M1 include air vents in the bonnet, twin rear logos, the louvres on the rear windscreen, and the trademark squat kidney grille.

This sporty concept stands by the M1 tradition of being mid-engined and a rear-wheel-drive. As with the M1, the Homage headlamps are visible only when the car is switched on.

The BMW M1 was produced in 1978 by the motorsport division of BMW, in collaboration with Italian car maker Lamborghini. It was the first mid-engined BMW car, powered by a twin-cam M88/1 3.5 litre  6-cylinder gasoline engine with Kugelfischer injection system. Production of the M1 stopped in 1981.

The BMW Group Designworks was founded  by American designer Charles Pelly in 1972. The company got its first order from BMW AG in 1985 to develop an integrated seatbelt for the BMW 850i. In 1995, Designworks became a 100 per cent subsidiary of the BMW Group.