Friday 20th March 2015

BMW CSL Homage: Pic Of The Week

Four decades of US motorsport success marked in considerable style

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Everyone knows the BMW Motorsport colours. The red, purple and blue scheme has been seen on many a legendary road and race car over the years. They've also been seen on a few less inspirational BMWs too but we'll gloss over those for now.

The Z4 GTLM in its 'CSL Homage livery' races at Sebring this weekend to mark 40 years of BMW's first motorsport victory in America. As part of the celebration BMW wheeled out the original CSL Batmobile from 1975 for the photocall. Typically this sort of thing can look like a rather cynical marketing stunt but when the car is such an icon you won't hear us complaining.

To have both Z4 and CSL in the Motorsport colours therefore had to be Pic Of The Week. Two great looking racing cars in a fantastic livery and a moody backdrop - perfect. Obviously what we really need is a roadgoing Z4 CSL as a proper anniversary special but the pics will have to suffice!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone, etc)

[soad]

Better than last week's; you're learning.

[pSyCoSiS]

That CSL just looks epic. Great POTW.

[Amirhussain]

That's a great picture, both cars look the business.

[unsprung]

Here the original CSL gives us a good look at the prow or forward-leaning nose that was a signature element of the BMW design language in the past. It's certainly distinctive -- especially now that many manufacturers, including BMW, have coalesced around a raked or streamlined nose.

[crashley]

Can i get the original jpeg or whatever so i can have this actually printed please?

[j90gta]

The CSL looks sooooooo much better!!

[SuperHangOn]

Really doesn't need the new thing on the left side.

[ocallen]

I worked for BMW GB in the 70s when we had Motorsport colours on almost everything. Still very much a new marketing idea then so demo cars, clothing, desk items and luggage all had the theme. The CSL was a brilliant demo car which left my following 633 a bit in the shade.