Again in early 2008, BMW had an concept to have fun 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 properly. On the thirtieth anniversary of its debut, Chris Bangle, former BMW’s Head of Design, and the workforce at BMW Traditional needed to create a automotive that honored the M1’s legacy for the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Six designers have 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 have 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). In the present day, Weil and Warming lead BMW’s idea and superior design groups. However ultimately, it was Benoit Jacob’s design that stood out. Jacob, who would later lead the design of the futuristic i3 and i8, created a automotive that was each a tribute to the unique M1 and a imaginative and prescient of what a contemporary BMW supercar may seem like.
A Tight Deadline
A few of you would possibly recall from our earlier tales how the design course of works: there are a number of rounds of sketches being submitted, and ultimately, one prevails. The method normally takes years, however on this case, time was of the essence. Jacbob received the competition in February, a month after the temporary was handed out. As soon as the design was chosen, the true problem started. The workforce had simply 4 months to show the M1 Hommage into an actual automotive for its debut on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the distinguished automotive present on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. The strain was huge, with a workforce 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 automotive 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 coloration and the Porsche Ruby Pink and DayGlo Orange of the Turbo Idea, regarded vibrant in opposition to the blue waves. The automotive blended traditional M1 design cues, just like the slatted rear window and slim and futuristic headlights, with fashionable options. Constructed on the axles of the E63 6 Sequence, the M1 Hommage regarded so full that many thought it was prepared for manufacturing.
The Finest Half? A V10 Engine Underneath The Hood
Right here comes the most effective 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 surely, a extremely sought-after automotive. 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. Massive, gas-guzzling supercars have been falling out of favor, particularly in Germany, the place there was rising political strain in opposition to them, in line with Steve Saxty, the writer 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 form of sports activities automotive: the BMW i8. The i8 carried a few of the Hommage’s futuristic design parts however featured a plug-in hybrid system with a three-cylinder engine. Whereas modern, the i8 didn’t have the uncooked, emotional enchantment of a V10-powered supercar.
The Legacy of the M1 Hommage
Although 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.”
