BMW 2002 HOMMAGE.

BMW Group has created a very special car for this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, paying tribute to one of BMW’s most significant models. The BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the extraordinary feats of engineering behind the BMW 2002 turbo – and re-imagines them as a design study.

“Exactly 50 years ago, the 02 range kick-started an era of success for BMW. This compact coupe is one of the vehicles that made the brand what it is today,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The 2002 sat at the top of the range, and was the first series-produced car anywhere in Europe to come with turbo technology. The BMW 2002 Hommage is our way of raising a glass to all these achievements.”

A confident statement of unadulterated driving joy.

“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,” says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles.

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.

Historic details with a modern twist.

Inspired by the signature chrome strip that ringed the 02 in its day, a horizontal carbon band wraps itself around the shoulderline of the BMW 2002 Hommage and splits the body visually into separate sections. The upper tranche of roof, bonnet and boot lid has matt paintwork to prevent reflection of the sun’s rays – in a reference to racing cars of yore.

The lower section creates a definite contrast, with its high-gloss paintwork, bold, sculptural surfaces, and distinctive lines draw the eye to the rear wheels. The Space Race Metal paintwork, in both matt and gloss form, changes in appearance from a brightly fluorescent blue to grey, depending on the incidence of light.

Slick surfacing and precisely chiselled lines envelop the powerful wheel arches and hand them a starring role. Twenty-inch light-alloy wheels in bi-colour design round off the styling.

Fronted by 50 years of BMW history.

The front end of the BMW 2002 Hommage is a confident and extravagantly dynamic affair; its styling bridges a gap of 50 years in combining the characteristic, horizontal graphic of the 02 range with modern elements of BMW design.

Occupying centre stage at the front end is the familiar BMW kidney grille. Here, it takes the form of a low-standing, connected unit, offering a flesh slant as a cohesive design element. Like the BMW 2002, the BMW 2002 Hommage also has two single headlights bordered by reflectors, whose gold colouring is a pointer to the “golden” 50th anniversary of the BMW 2002’s launch and reprise the yellow hue commonly found in the headlights of racing cars back in the day.

Those with a keen eye will also pick out the turn signal repeaters, which – like those of the car’s forebear – are located separately from the headlights and embedded into a full-width strip (in carbon on the Hommage car) above them.

Bringing matters to a sporting conclusion.

The rear-end design of the BMW 2002 Hommage also calls on elements of the 2002 turbo. The almost rectangular lights provide a stylistic border for the rear end. All you can see when they are dormant is an unbroken black surface. As at the front of the car, this strengthens the impression of a strip wrapped around the car.

The BMW logo to the right of the license plate between the two rear lights is likewise a characteristic element of 02 rear styling. A carbon diffuser integrates the now familiar two sets of twin exhaust tailpipes and wraps up the rear styling with a sporting flourish.

BMW’s fresh interpretation of the BMW 2002 adopts the form of a compact sports coupe in the classical tradition of BMW Hommage cars. But more than that, the BMW 2002 Hommage represents a clear statement of how pure driving pleasure is defined in 2016.