for the 2016 concorso d’eleganza villa d’este, BMW celebrated 50 years of the extraordinary feats of engineering behind the ‘2002 turbo’ with a re-imagined ‘2002 hommage’. ‘the eye-catching design of the BMW 2002 hommage employs a very dynamic, striking use of forms for its own take on what is, for me, one of the most iconic vehicles in BMW history,’ explains karim habib, head of design BMW to designboom. ‘at the same time, it encapsulates BMW’s major motor sport triumphs, which were made possible by turbo technology. as such, the hommage car brings together the past and future of BMW into a confident statement of unadulterated driving joy.’
the sporting silhouette of the BMW ‘2002 hommage’ lies low against the road. its compact proportions, complete with long wheelbase, short overhands and prominent sharp 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 to optimize airflow around the car and maximize downforce.
influenced by the signature chrome strip that rings the ‘2002’ in its day, a horizontal carbon band wraps itself around the shoulder line of the latest ‘hommage’ and splits the body visually into separate sections. the upper tranche of the roof, bonnet and boot lid have matt paintwork to prevent reflection of the sun’s rays – in a reference to racing cars before.
the body’s lines here are minimalist, clearly drawn and flowing in nature. the lower section creates a definite contrast, with its high-gloss paintwork, very bold, sculptural surfaces and distinctive lines that infuse the flanks with a contemporary flavor and draw the eye to the driven rear wheels.
a particularly striking feature of the car’s flanks are the voluminously moulded wheel arches, which frame the body like four brackets and add stature. in the process, they recall the homologated verison of the BMW ‘2002 turbo’, which needed broad extensions bolted onto its body to accommodate a significantly wider track. BMW’s fresh interpretation of the BMW ‘2002’ adopts the form of a compact sports coupe in the classical tradition of BMW hommage cars and represents a clear statement of how pure driving pleasure is defined in 2016.









