The BMW M1 celebrated its 30th birthday this weekend at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este.
In honour of the quirky supercar BMW wheeled out the new M1 Hommage, a car that not only pays tribute to the original design but gives a nod towards the company’s vision of a future supercar.
The likelihood of an M1 successor is not totally out of the realms of possibility and rumour has it the company is working on a twin-turbo V10 supercar for 2012.
The idea is to take on cars such as the Audi R8 and Mercedes SL Black Series.
The M1 Hommage is a forward-thinking design with retro detailing, says BMW, and is instantly recognisable as an M1.
It retains a louvered rear window, two badges on the back and even has a similar wheel design.
Only the front has a different design, with the pop-up lights binned in favour of deep-set quad headlamps.
BMW says it is only a design study to celebrate the original, and as such there is no engine or interior.
One thing I can say is you really don't realise how big the concept is until you see it next to the original car.