BMW Concept Coupé Mille Miglia
BMW has built a stunning looking concept designed to celebrate its Mille Miglia (MM) Heritage.
Using the Z4 M Coupé's underpinnings, the BMW Concept Coupé Mille Miglia sports a hinged hard roof consisting of the whole cockpit. The body's made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, painted in silver, while the interior features stainless steel, untreated cowhides and Lycra. It's powered by the Coupé's 343bhp straight six.
Its looks echo the BMW 328 that won the race in 1940, when it posted a 104mph average speed over the course's 1,000 miles, the fastest average speed for any historic MM.
About the Mille Miglia
Like the older Targa Florio and later the Carrera Panamericana, the MM made Gran Turismo (Grand Touring) sports cars like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari (which debuted as a marque in the 1940 event), Maserati and also Porsche famous.
The race was established by the young Contes Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti, apparently in response to their home town of Brescia 'losing' the Italian Grand Prix. Together with a group of wealthy associates a race from Brescia to Rome and back was chosen, a figure-of-eight of roughly 1500 km - a thousand Roman miles. Later races followed twelve other courses. The first race started on 26 March 1927 with around 75 starters, all Italian.
The road race was restarted in 1977 after a 20-year hiatus and only cars that participated in the original race may enter. Twenty-two BMWs have entered this year.
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