*NOW UPDATED WITH VIDEO* BMW unveils its tribute to the 1960s/1970s 02 Series at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with the M2-based 2002 Homage
[Not a valid template]And just when we thought Aston Martin and Zagato had won this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este…
Long time readers may remember the 3.0 CSL Hommage BMW presented at the same event last year, the Bavarian marque one-upping itself this year with an M2-based celebratory concept that pays tribute to the 2002 Turbo.
The 2002 Homage marks the 50th anniversary of its namesake, which first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966, the 02 series eventually forming a template for the all-conquering 3 Series in 1975 and ultimately establishing BMW as a big game player. Much like the Vision 100 Concept that came before it, the 2002 Homage ‘brings together the past and future of BMW’, re-imagining the engineering and turbocharged oomph behind the 2002 for the 21st century.
Flanking the traditional kidney grilles at the front are a couple of integrated (and bloody enormous) fenders, detailed with ‘Turbo’ lettering and some subtle ‘M’ red, blue and navy colouring. Single headlights are bordered by golden indicators in a further reference to the 02 series’ 50 years of service. A horizontal carbon band meanwhile runs the length of the body and pays tribute to the chrome strip that ringed the original mode. Below the ‘shark nose’, the front splitter – along with the rear spoiler – draws hints to BMW’s E21-chassis 3-Series race cars.
The above is decked out with Space Race Metal paintwork, which in a particularly neat twist changes from fluorescent blue to grey depending on the amount of light shining on it. Extended wheel arches meanwhile – a nod to the 2002 Turbo’s extended rear track – house multi-spoked, 20-in light-alloy wheels and gold, M-logo stamped brake callipers for good measure.
No technical details have been released for the design study, so one can only assume the M2 underpinnings remain unchanged, as does the 365bhp 3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder that produces 369lb ft of torque and chomps its way to 100kph in just 4.5 seconds. It certainly sounds the part anyway, given the below promotional video.
Source – Bimmerfest
