Jalopnik
Remember the BMW M1 from the late 70's and early 80's? Sure, we all do — how could someone forget the only BMW mid-engined homologated racer? Well, for you fans of that MotorWorken hotness, we've got an exciting bit of news out of the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este, an Italian gathering hosting precious metal from all over the world. The Germans suprised everyone by bringing a piece of racing hotness hearkening back to those halcyon days of the late 70's — kind of a thirtieth anniversary present to lovers of the old M1. It's called the BMW M1 Homage concept, a modern-day interpretation of the mid-engined Bavarian exotic. So is this flame-surfaced M1 successor a future classic? Well, it's hard to say.
As of now, the M1 Homage is strictly a design exercise. We haven't seen shots of the interior, the mechanical bits, or of the vehicle in motion, so it may very well be no more than a hot body. The styling is directly influenced from not only the original M1, but also from that car's inspiration, the BMW Turbo Concept. So if history is to repeat itself, perhaps this Homage is a predecessor to a toned-down limited-production version, but don't hold your breath. There have been optimistic rumors of a BMW return to the mid-engined supercar game, and this would certainly be a bold first step. But we'll have to wait and see just how far BMW is going to take this concept. For now, we'll settle with gawking at the motionless photos of this modern automotive sculpture. [Photo Credit: BMW]
Comments
Are we sure it's even a hot body? It looks really CG.
I personally am way more interested in that weird super-M1 on the right side of the first picture with the covered rear wheel. What's the story on that?
Will they be offering an XM1 CUV variant?
What jokers those bavarians are! The surfacing ahead of the rear wheel arches is seriously wacky. It wouldn't be so surprising to learn that BMW are working on an Audi R8/Porsche 911 competitor but somehow I doubt this is it
I did an M1 redesign a couple of days ago, it looks better than this from the front, but it's just B&W sketches, so it's not for drooling over.
*years ago!
Why, oh why, did they entrust the design to BMW's team of pencil-wielding four-year-olds rather than letting Italdesign do it again? The wheels are a clever throwback to the M1's Campagnolo mags, but the rest of the car is just a reminder of the way BMW has lost the plot in the Bangle years.
@athodyd: that's the Turbo concept from the late '70s, i think it had not engine or something.
I've always been a fan of the old M1's looks. I thought Bangle was out, but this looks like he bred a new Camaro to an M1, and it became fat and ugly. What is that--10" wider than the original?
I like it.
@cargogh: And as a "homage" to the M1 it misses the point entirely. The original was minimalist in concept and execution - including the engine. This is crass and bloated.
Can't be a coincidence that they did the same thing when they "re-imagined" the Mini.
Hummer hood vents and louvres!
wooooooooow.
I'm at a loss for words.
And that's not a good thing.
I think its stunning... Although the hand of Bangle obviously squished this one as well, but is fat and big. Would be nice if it came with the V10 from the M5 in the middle, but then dont call it the M1. Shrink it, put in a twin turbo 6, and then call it an M1.
This could have been awesome with its generally sleek albeit bloated profile. Unfortunately, too many key areas are botched--the grille, the side vents, the rear fenders, the rear deck, the taillights, the rear diffuser. Every single one of these elements has too many materials, too many creases. Not quite as bad as original Bangle-itis, but still sadly over-wrought.
And what is the car on the right? It looks like someone photochopped an 850 and an M1 together... maybe this is a CGI excersize, to show lineage, and progression...
I don't really dig the whole back hole front end and the kidney bean grille is either too big or a forced afterthought. The wheels are great and look like the old with being very futuristic looking. I want to see it in another color... maybe the white with blue/red racing colors......
You know, the back isn't that bad, other than being a little flat. the front is growing on me, and the window profile is well executed, but overall, it looks squashed - Metamorphosis style. Where I think the design really falls is in the completely overdone section just before the rear wheels and the side profile in all. But then, I think the M1 looks great, but the Turbo concept looks terrible. Maybe when this gets toned down for production, it'll all even out.
@boognish: The BMW Turbo concept car from 1972. Built in '72 to commemorate the Summer Olympics in Munich.
en.wikipedia.org
OK, so this is the weekend edition of Jalopnik. One post each day, and all the regulars are thread jacking. Even the editors are using some of the ideas the thread jackers post, like this one for example. It was brought up here:
[jalopnik.com]
There must be too much going on at the Sports Pages of the Onion to pay attention here.....
I dub this car the M1 Knightrider... long live KITT Von Supercar!
OK It's time for another thread jack:
I need someone with some fine Photoshop Skills to produce a couple of graphics for my new Blog.... will pay somewhat handsomely for fine work, just keep it similar in size to the title page used at the other gawker sites. Place a private message here for my e-mail address if interested.
The Name you ask. Why it's Dieselfumes. Don't look for it online yet, just setting it up right now.
@UDMan: Are you gonna hire someone and never use them too?
Hoo-ah!
@voodoojoo: I got pulled away from tis earlier before I could say:
FAT FUCKING HAT TIP TO VOODOOJOO FOR MENTIONING THIS IN YESTERDAY RATION OF WEEKEND POSTS!
at least give credit where it's due. Pretty much, shows there's no attention even being paid to our "efforts" on here. le sigh
From the front this car looks like a rather displeased Beaver with blackened teeth.
@Starlton Heston: I CAN HAS EFFRTS?
Talk like the lolcats, they (Wert) hates it!!!1!!1!!!!1!!1!1!
so um.... yeah....
totally all photoshop.
Mater from "Cars" looks more real
@orangeroller: Mater isn't real??? Next thing you're gonna say is there's no such thing as Santa....
Don't answer that!!!1!!!!!!1!1!!!11!!
@UDMan: you got color ideas or elements requirements? just want it to say the name of the site?
@UDMan: Shoot me an email at Texan_idiot25@yahoo.com and I'll send someone your way: [www.surgeongeneral.deviantart.com]
Drool..
THE CAR (unlike Santa, sorry Polar, our moms and dads have been scammin' us. But don't let them know and keep reeling it in) IS REAL!
@UDMan: [www.surgeongeneral.deviantart.com]
@TexanIdiot25: thoz weelz r teh growsnz!
I like this, and the Turbo.
I guess if you make a car low enough and long enough, even Chris Bangle can't screw it up. I like the beveled deck top a lot.
@Starlton Heston: SPIDERMAN WHEELS AHOY!
That is not an attractive automobile. Hope they don't actually produce them - I would not want to see one in person.
I'll wait until the Fiero body kit comes out. This is a straight-to-Fiero design, if you ask me.
@al_beaton: You just nailed it. My exact thought. This new design just looks messy, like one of the Chinese copies with a BMW emblem attached, some weird kit car, or something from a video game.
Yuck! (I do like the wheels, though.)
@Eric Merrill: Fiero = The modern day VHS?
Is the porn industry responsible for the Fiero's popularity too? (if you know VHS's history)
one word. Whoa. :O
It's not still the First of April is it?
@kolorfast:
I wouldn't think anyone would keep something as a reminder of that event.
"...kind of a thirtieth anniversary present to lovers of the old M1. It's called the BMW M1 Homage concept, a modern-day interpretation of the mid-engined Bavarian exotic."
More like the BMW M1 "Carnage" concept.
The 'face' is my favorite part..pretty evil looking, even in Radioactive Burnt Orange. More, please.
Is Jerry Weigert working for BMW now?
BMW seems to have a very confused design department right now. Their last few concepts are all over the map. From the Concept Coupe Mille Miglia (retro Z4 weirdness) to the Concept CS (modern hotness) things were a little off, but now the M1 Homage (modern retro hot weirdness)?
I think I vurped.
NON-SEQUITUR ALERT:
Isn't Krewson supposed to be the weekend editor? Where's my weekend content be at?
At least a recap of the F1 race would be in order: even a "Kimi wins from pole, Pole finishes fourth" would do...
@Al Navarro: You know, I give a very small percentage of a rat's ass about formula one standings (now that Scandinavians with obscene mustaches aren't in the running anymore, I could care less), but Kubica seems pretty cool. He's from an out-of-the-way cold part of the world, he's young and rising in the ranks, and he looks funny. I'd love to see him go far.
Personally, I like it... but I like the R8 more. I still think there's something not quite right with the R8's "face", but there's something even more not-quite-right with this one.
That said, I still like it. Now they just need to shrink it back down to the right size and try and hide it from all the cocks who normally drive performance BMWs.
This is definitely overdone and needs to be toned down, but it's really any more 'wierd' than one of those wild concepts that occasionally come from Pininfarina or one of the other design houses:
[www.seriouswheels.com]
@Adamskiy: ...not any more wierd...*
I don't like it.
Poor rear visibility. The grill looks designed to suck pedestrians into the intake. It appears to have been thwacked with a huge skillet, then whittled on by an over-eager boy scout. No. No No.
Compare it to a nice Ford GT, and you will see how this kind of a design should have been executed.
Bugger.
And like BMW's too...
WANT!
Seriously, it's a bit OTT at the moment, but it's a concept. I can imagine it toned down slightly for production, but remaining seriously hot.
With the arrival of the R8, BMW is now missing a trick. This could reset the balance. I note that some of you were criticising the BMW for being too squat, but have you seen an R8 in the metal yet? It looks every bit as low as this does. Maybe even more so.
I'll be well impressed if this actually happens.