Again in early 2008, BMW had an thought to rejoice one in every of its most iconic vehicles: the M1. This supercar from the late Nineteen Seventies was and nonetheless is BMW’s solely supercar ever made, with an thrilling racing historical past behind it as effectively. On the thirtieth anniversary of its debut, Chris Bangle, former BMW’s Head of Design, and the group at BMW Traditional wished to create a automobile that honored the M1’s legacy for the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Six designers had been invited to pitch concepts for what would change into the BMW M1 Hommage. Even Joji Nagashima, well-known for designing the Z3, E39 5 Sequence and E90 3 Sequence, joined the hassle. Alongside him had been rising stars like Christopher Weil (former head of BMW Exterior Design) and Anders Warming (previous and present boss of a number of manufacturers at BMW). As we speak, Weil and Warming lead BMW’s idea and superior design groups. However in the long run, it was Benoit Jacob’s design that stood out. Jacob, who would later lead the design of the futuristic i3 and i8, created a automobile that was each a tribute to the unique M1 and a imaginative and prescient of what a contemporary BMW supercar might appear to be.
A Tight Deadline
A few of you may recall from our earlier tales how the design course of works: there are a number of rounds of sketches being submitted, and in the long run, one prevails. The method often takes years, however on this case, time was of the essence. Jacbob gained the competition in February, a month after the transient was handed out. As soon as the design was chosen, the actual problem started. The group had simply 4 months to show the M1 Hommage into an actual automobile for its debut on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the celebrated automobile present on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. The strain was huge, with a group of 25 folks working across the clock to make it occur. The schedule was so tight that a few of BMW’s board members didn’t even see the automobile till hours earlier than it was unveiled.
However they pulled it off. When the M1 Hommage was revealed, it was beautiful. Its Liquid Orange paint, a nod to the M1’s iconic shade and the Porsche Ruby Purple and DayGlo Orange of the Turbo Idea, appeared vibrant towards the blue waves. The automobile blended traditional M1 design cues, just like the slatted rear window and slim and futuristic headlights, with trendy options. Constructed on the axles of the E63 6 Sequence, the M1 Hommage appeared so full that many thought it was prepared for manufacturing.
The Greatest Half? A V10 Engine Underneath The Hood
Right here comes the perfect half: BMW deliberate to equip the M1 Hommage with the S85 V10 engine, the identical 5.0-liter powerhouse from the E60 M5. This might have made it a real efficiency monster and a worthy successor to the unique M1, and for sure, a extremely sought-after automobile. However regardless of its near-production readiness, the M1 Hommage confronted as soon as once more a significant roadblock: timing. In 2008, the automotive world was shifting towards smaller, extra environment friendly engines. Large, gas-guzzling supercars had been falling out of favor, particularly in Germany, the place there was rising political strain towards them, in response to Steve Saxty, the creator of the BMW Behind The Scenes books.
Ultimately, BMW determined to not produce the M1 Hommage. As an alternative, they turned their focus towards a brand new sort of sports activities automobile: the BMW i8. The i8 carried among the Hommage’s futuristic design components however featured a plug-in hybrid system with a three-cylinder engine. Whereas progressive, the i8 didn’t have the uncooked, emotional enchantment of a V10-powered supercar.
The Legacy of the M1 Hommage
Regardless that it by no means went into manufacturing, the M1 Hommage left its mark. Its Liquid Orange paint impressed the creation of Valencia Orange, which appeared on the 1 Sequence M Coupe. Its design influenced different BMW fashions, together with the i8. Ultimately, the M1 Hommage stays one in every of BMW’s most fascinating “what ifs.”
