BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage revealed
BMW's latest Hommage concept shown in all its Golf Yellow and carbon glory
Now shown in full, the 3.0 CSL Hommage certainly lives up to the promise of that initial teaser. Beyond that ornate description there's simply a very stylish sports coupe that is unmistakably BMW. Familiar cues - the quad headlamps, kidney grille and Hofmeister kink - combine with some concept car fantasy such as the lights through the spoiler and side-exit exhausts to create a fairly spectacular end product.
Working from the front, BMW says the Hommage "exudes pure power", that the sides are "in elegant counterpoint to the marked athleticism of front and rear" and that there's a "muscular presence" to the back. It's a very serious design, in case you were in any doubt.
The Hommage adheres to the CSL ethos inside with a fiercely pared back interior or, as BMW would term it, one that "renders its racing character elegantly tangible". There's a contender for World's Ugliest Steering Wheel, fire extinguisher, cut-outs for helmets and six-point harnesses for the bucket seats. The wooden 'dash' is a reference to the old CSL.
All well and good, you may be thinking, but what's the point if there isn't a jot of relevance to BMW road cars? Well Adrian van Hooydonk says the Hommage cars "demonstrate how proud we are of our heritage, but also how important the past can be in determining our future." So there won't be a production CSL, but that statement implies it could influence some upcoming models. Fingers crossed!
On that car they are relatively benign, but here (and it is a show car I suppose) they are just a bit too 'try hard' I feel. In that sense I'm reminded of the One-77 which was similarly afflicted.
I get that designers feel they need to introduce some tension/interest into their work to avoid everything becoming sleek Audi-a-likes, but wholly decorative fake intakes and grauitous creases like this only work when applied sparingly.
</expert car design critique>
I take the point about the front being the least successful design aspect, but it's different and I'm guessing that most of the additional cooling is required.
The side view looks stunning - and I love the nod to the original around the b and c pillars and the chrome trim.
If only they would actually make it!
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