At the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, the BMW Group is presenting the BMW 2002 Hommage to shine the spotlight back over its successful history with turbocharged engines. In 1973 the BMW 2002 turbo became the first series-produced vehicle in Europe to feature turbo technology. In so doing, it turned the BMW 02 into a full-blooded sports car. Looking back, the advent of BMW turbo engine technology pointed the way for both the development of the sportiest BMW sedans and milestones such as the first Formula One World Championship title for a turbocharged car – won by Nelson Piquet in 1983.
The model unveiled in Pebble Beach writes the next chapter in a story begun by the BMW 2002 Hommage, which the company presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May.
The sporting silhouette of the BMW 2002 Hommage lies low against the road. Its compact proportions; complete with long wheelbase, short overhangs and prominent “shark nose”, promise a driving experience that thrills with irresistible dynamics and agility.
Aerodynamic details like the large spoilers at the front and rear team up with the profusion of air intakes and exits to optimise airflow around the car and maximise downforce in every driving situation.
A particularly striking feature of the car’s flanks are the pronounced wheel arches, which frame the body like four brackets and add stature. In the process, they recall the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, which needed broad extensions bolted onto its body to accommodate a significantly wider track. The Hommage car integrates this detail neatly. Sleek surfacing and precisely chiselled lines envelop the powerful wheel arches and hand them a starring role.
In perhaps the most literal reference of the original 2002, the 2002 Hommage features a unifying “waterline” to connect many of the car’s formal elements. This unbroken carbon fiber line physically wraps around the car from front to rear, while also creating a horizontal distinction between upper and lower body surfaces. 20-inch light-alloy wheels in bi-colour design round off the styling as the car meets the road. The modern looks of these lavishly milled, multi-spoke items recall the racing rims of bygone eras, while gold-coloured brake callipers bearing the M logo add an extra stamp of class.
