BERLIN: BMW has gift-wrapped its latest retro concept car to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the brand’s arrival in the USA, while also providing a glimpse into how cars will closely interact with drivers in the future.
The German brand has given its 3.0 CSL Hommage concept – first revealed at the Villa d’Este Concours earlier this year – the full “Batmobile” racing treatment with a historic take on the paint job that made the original a motorsport icon in the 1970s.
It took the covers off the latest iteration of the concept at the annual Pebble Beach Concours in California, which is being held on the Monterey Peninsula this weekend.
The updated concept extends the visual appeal of the previous Hommage model with a more aggressive exterior, complete with additional aerodynamic elements, larger wheels, side-exiting exhaust pipes and a retro-take on its corporate racing livery.
While its chunky two-door body looks stunning, the minimalist interior offers a more intriguing glimpse into the future.
Built around its racing heritage, the driver sits in a snug bucket seat and is fitted with a race suit and helmet that all interact with the car. For starters, the fireproof race suit – designed in conjunction with sportswear company Puma – has piping on the sleeves that provide an illuminated link from the steering column to the helmet as the engine builds up revs.
The helmet itself has a built-in head-up display in the visor, projecting information such as the vehicle’s speed, gear indicator and engine revs.
The dashboard also features a single strip of wood (another historic reference back to the original) that has a uniquely high-tech twist as display projects additional information such as a circuit map with braking points.
BMW has not provided details of whether the 3.0 CSL Hommage R’s mechanical underpinnings are upgraded from the previous concept, which was powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo six cylinder from the M3/M4 with an electric boost function. However, it is understood some of the concept’s key design elements – such as its more upright kidney grille, slim headlights and overall stance – could provide a hint at the look and feel of the next-generation 6-Series coupe which is due in 2018.
