Illustration copyright Getty Image caption Top Gear believes that the M1 Hommage is far from the coolest prototype created by the Bavarian Engine Plant
Over its almost hundred-year history, BMW has experienced many significant events. But among all of them, one can highlight one, the most important thing: salvation from bankruptcy with the help of a pop-eyed small car.
The fact is that although BMW was very successful in producing aircraft engines during the First and Second World Wars and produced a number of legendary cars (for example, the amazing BMW 507), by the end of the 1950s the company was close to financial collapse, and was almost sold.
If it weren't for the success of the humble little BMW 700 (and its Isetta predecessor), we might have to live in a world without the later BMW M5, M3 or even the three-litre CSL. It would be a sad, dreary world, say Top Gear editors.
So all car enthusiasts should take their hats off to the small rear-wheel drive BMW with a rear engine: it paved the way for the company to prosperity and financial independence, giving it the opportunity to grow, develop and experiment.
Illustration copyright BMW Group Image caption BMW 328 Hommage (2011): aluminum, leather, power and nostalgia in one bottleIn a sense, this indirectly led to the emergence of masterpieces of design thought presented in this article.
We bring to your attention a selection of BMW concept cars, inspired by the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept unveiled to the public earlier this year. It is, of course, good, but it is far from the craziest and coolest prototype of the Bavarian Engine Plant.
Look what else there were.
Spicup, designed by Bertone
Illustration copyright BonhamsThis concept was shown in 1969 at the Geneva Motor Show, and it was created by the now bankrupt Italian design studio Bertone.
The car was based on the 2000 CS, and one of its distinguishing features was the steel roof panels that retracted into the roll bar.
From the front, the Spicup was very similar to the Alfa Romeo Montreal and the Lamborghini Espada (also by Marcello Gandini), and under the hood was a BMW 2.5-liter straight-six.
The concept car shown in Geneva was recently put up for sale at auction. (Photo: Bonhams)
E25 Turbo (1972)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupLooks familiar? No surprise: this is the predecessor of the wonderful BMW M1, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich as a platform for testing new technologies - including a complex radar system that warned of curbs and other obstacles.
Paul Braque's recognizable design style was later embodied in the BMW M1, 8 Series and even the Z1 (the notorious roadster with retractable doors).
Nazca concept (1991)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupAnd this is a completely different matter. The BMW Nazca M12 concept car was the debut work of 26-year-old Fabrizio Giugiaro, who was inspired by Formula 1 cars and Group C racing cars. Not a bad source of inspiration, what can we say.
The supporting frame and body of the car were made of carbon fiber, and light alloys were widely used in the project, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the prototype to 1,100 kilograms.
The Nazca's hood and trunk were combined into one unit; the car had a windshield covering the cabin and visibility of 360 degrees.
It also had a 300-horsepower five-liter V12 engine taken from the 850i, placed between the axles and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
The rear-wheel drive car had gullwing-shaped doors, which immediately gave it a lot of additional advantages in its karma.
Z18 Concept (1995)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis is a minor misunderstanding - BMW's first roadster SUV. It is worth noting that he is also the last one for now.
Perhaps there are compelling commercial reasons for this, although he himself, of course, is excellent.
The car had a V-shaped eight-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive, plastic body panels hung on a steel frame, and its interior could be reconfigured at will.
BMW, please put it into production! Not too late.
Z9 Gran Turismo (1999)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis prototype marked the beginning of the return of the BMW 6 Series to modern times. the lineup companies. This car was drawn by Chris Bangle and shown in 1999.
Inside it was equipped with an early version of the now familiar iDrive electronic control system, and even deeper in its innards was the four-liter diesel engine that later migrated to the 740d model.
The body, of course, was made of the usual carbon fiber panels on an aluminum frame, but it had one important distinguishing feature: gullwing doors.
The fact that BMW ultimately decided not to make the 6 Series with these doors defies explanation.
X Coupe Concept (2001)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThe X Coupe wowed audiences at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show, and continues to wow to this day.
This is how BMW interprets the phrase “pushing the boundaries of what is possible.” Well, the boundaries are indeed being obediently pushed back.
The X Coupe is a crazy all-wheel drive coupe based on the parquet X5 SUV, with a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine and a fully reclining rear end.
Has this machine been completely torn from real life? In general, no: in some ways, it is the progenitor of the X6, as well as many other coupe SUVs.
So with this alien unit, BMW was again first.
Mille Miglia coupe concept (2006)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThe Mille Miglia concept coupe is an illustration of how people in the 1950s imagined the future. The future looked good.
The overall shape of the car is a clear reference to the classic 328.
Beneath its carbon fiber body panels was the chassis of the Z4 M Coupe. And that means a fiery 3.2-liter inline-six engine with an even more fiery 340 horsepower inside.
The same engine, by the way, was in the BMW M3 version E46.
CS Concept (2007)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis car was the size of a 7 Series, and it seriously upset us. Why?
Yes, because BMW first started talking about putting it on an assembly line, but at the end of 2008 the damn crisis ruined everything, and the assembly line didn’t happen.
CS is a thing though! Fast, flowing lines, "an engine suited to a dynamic character", a low, shark-like profile. Great.
GINA concept (2008)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupLet's get some simple information out of the way first: this concept car is based on the Z8 roadster. This is where the simpler information ends.
The body of this car is a flexible material stretched over a wire frame reinforced with carbon fiber.
According to the plan, the driver should be able to change the shape of the car while in motion.
At the time, designer Chris Bangle believed this was the future: allowing customers to create their own cars to suit their needs.
But if you look at the parking lot in front of any supermarket, it becomes clear that the prophet from Bangle was not very good.
We at Top Gear think it all comes down to the potential threat of scissor-wielding thugs.
M1 Hommage concept (2008)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupBMW loves its history - and how can you not love it if it included cars like the M1?
This bright unit was first seen at the Concorso d'Eleganza exhibition of historical cars in 2008 - in honor of the 30th anniversary of the release of the BMW M1, the first and only true supercar of the German company.
The concept shares a similar look to its ancestor: a low, wide and bold profile straight out of the 1970s, somewhat modernized by Chris Bangle's signature design language.
Nothing was said about the engine, it was purely a visual job. But just imagine 12 cylinders under that hood...
Vision Efficient Dynamics (2009)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupVED appeared in 2009 and instantly became one of the most talked about concept cars recent years, in particular, because it all consisted of different layers. Well, the technical stuff was interesting, of course.
The hybrid turbo engine seemed to hint that the car's dynamic characteristics could be comparable to the M3 model, but at the same time emit less than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
It’s like eating only cakes and not getting fat. Moreover, this concept finally reached the assembly line in the form of the i8 model.
Vision Connected Drive (2011)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis is how BMW envisions a future in which the car seamlessly becomes an extension of the driver's brain, without a painful lobotomy.
This concept, shown in 2011, embodies a vision of a world in which cars are connected into one network.
It is capable of projecting three-dimensional images onto the windshield; has an “emotional browser” that loads information about the area where he is traveling; and even features multi-color fiber optic elements in the body panels. Plague.
BMW 328 Hommage Concept (2011)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis is an immediate yes. And what a “yes”! It's hard to even decide where to start.
The 328 Hommage Concept is a tribute to the classic BMW 328 from the 1930s. And this was one of the best racing cars in the history of the company.
The body is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and under the hood is a three-liter inline six. Aluminum, leather, power and nostalgia in one bottle. Give me two.
Zagato Coupe Concept (2012)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupAnother debutant from the Concorso d'Eleganza. This beauty, based on the Z4 model, appeared in 2012 in an attempt to revive interest in the hand-built racing cars of the past.
The entire body is handcrafted, like the unique BMW 328 coupes of the late 1930s. The idea is called the Vmax concept - which in general probably means “fast device”.
The radiator grille is unmistakably BMW, the roof is shaped like a double hood, and the rear section is made in the chopped shape of a “Kamm tail” (this design, developed by the Swiss Wunibald Kamm, improves aerodynamics).
The body is entirely molded in one mold.
Vision Gran Turismo (2013)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThis, strictly speaking, is not so much a concept, but a virtual car designed for computer game Gran Turismo 6. We know practically nothing more about it.
Concept 3.0 CSL Hommage (2015)
Illustration copyright BMW GroupThe very first BMW CSL regularly appears in lists of the best creations of the Bavarian concern, and this is understandable: it is not for nothing that it bears the nickname “Batmobile”.
This concept car, shown at the 2015 Concorso d'Eleganza, is a yellow tribute to the great racing car of the 1970s, and it is the Thing.
The body is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The design retains the signature notes of the original CSL, while at the same time being a thoroughly modern killing machine. Just what the doctor ordered.
This is where our list comes to an end. You can also mention (Google it if you want) the BMW Hurricane concepts of 1964, the BMW 528/502 and the M8, which lives in a single copy at the company's headquarters...
The public premiere of the new two-seater car took place in August this year. The new product is produced jointly with Toyota, but there are no Japanese attributes in it.
new BMW Z4 concept 2017-2018
In this article we will try to highlight as much as possible the design, interior, component materials and cost of the sporty and powerful BMW Z4 Concept roadster.
Design of the BMW Z4 Concept convertible
The exterior perfectly combines almost incompatible things - aggressiveness and elegance. It is not difficult to note that on the sides the car is associated with a shark, which the new product inherited from its predecessors. But some products include a false radiator grille with voluminous mesh openings, headlights smoothly flowing onto the hood and convex ribs on the side of the car.
During a visual inspection, it is not difficult to note some disproportions of the body, for example, the interior is slightly shifted towards the wheelbase.
In general, when examining the BMW Z4 convertible, one can note the professional development of the car and highlight the following advantages:
- Pronounced lines of external outline;
- Massive wings;
- A rigid grille that gives the model aggressiveness and power;
- Large headlights, if you consider the lighting as eyes, then it is not difficult to note the slanting of the exterior;
- Volumetric air intakes on the front bumper;
- The rear lighting has a wide format;
- Harmonious diffuser at the rear;
- Wheel arches for 20" wheels and 5-spoke wheels.
Interior of the new BMW Z4
The salon is made in such a way that we can confidently say that everything is thought out to the smallest detail, that is, there is a clear and pleasant compatibility of minimalism with presentability. The designer tried and thought through all the subtleties, so driving the BMW Z4 2017-2018 is a pleasure.
Comfortable seats are offered for the driver and passenger. The driver's seat is trimmed with black genuine leather; the passenger seat is trimmed with nubuck leather (orange). When you look at such a selection of colors, you don’t even think about another color palette, everything is so multifaceted and compatible. Of course, traveling in such a car is simply bliss; the absence of glass opens up a view of the spatial dimension.
interior of the BMW Z4 roadster
Inside, all the elements just scream BMW, the steering wheel is very similar to a McLaren model. The multi-function instrument panel has a color display, the starter button is located next to the gearbox, it is worth noting that the gear lever has a different design. The multimedia system screen is placed at an angle, like the control buttons and tachometer scale.
The steering wheel is equipped with assistant buttons that are located under the steering wheel. The cabin houses the most fashionable and modern accessories - dashboard, multimedia system, gearbox.
Let's summarize all the interior elements of the BMW Z4 Concept and highlight the important points:
— A combination of conservatism and minimalism;
— Interesting configuration and colors of the seats.
Everything in the car is built in such a way that nothing will distract the driver from the driving process, and at a casual glance, the interior amazes with chic and fullness. It feels like everything is so harmonious that any added detail will only spoil the appearance.
Dimensions of the BMW Z4 concept
Overall dimensions are indicated by the following indicators:
The base is a Toyota Supra series platform with a length of 4500 millimeters;
wheelbase - 2.50 meters.
The car contains many interesting components, we will try to highlight the main ones:
— climate and cruise control;
— multifunctional instrument panel with head-up display;
— fashionable audio system;
- Motion Sensor;
— sports seats of different colors;
— a steering wheel equipped with three spokes and red buttons for changing gears;
— interesting console design;
— automatic transmission gear shift with 2 clutches.
As of today, manufacturers do not disclose complete information about the equipment of the BMW Z4 (Z4) roadster, apparently there are some nice things that will surprise car enthusiasts.
iDrive Specifications
Of course, it is impossible to obtain all the information about the technical characteristics today, but still some information has reached us. Let's try to highlight the main details. The basis of the BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive platform jointly developed with Toyota.
The concept in question does not have a roof, but according to information received, the car, which will be presented in 2018, will have a soft fabric roof. The design contains a large number of carbon fiber materials, which makes the mechanism lighter by 150 kilograms. The modern platform of the CLAR model also lightens the weight of the car.
Manufacturers promise that turbocharged engines with 4 or 6 cylinders will be placed under the hood.
It is known that the BMW Z4 will be assembled in 2018-2019 at one of the factories in Austria, along with the famous Toyota model Supra.
The developers promise that when the car enters the market, it will have several options:
— Turbocharged engine — sDrive20i and sDrive30i with a power of 252 horsepower;
— M40i with engine power of 340 horsepower;
— The Z4 M has a power of 370 horsepower.
The car's fuel consumption is 9 liters per 100 kilometers, and the BMW accelerates to a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in 4.8 seconds.
BMW Z4 2018 price
As it became known, the public presentation will take place in 2018 as part of a special event, the approximate cost is determined by the figure of 35 thousand euros, in Russian rubles - three million 660 thousand rubles.
Let's sum it up and determine the most important thing - such a car is a path to freedom, radiating strength and ambition.
Video review of BMW Z4 Concept 2017-2018:
Photos of the new BMW Z4:
We remind you that on May 7, the BMW concern turned one hundred years old, and in the near future we will be paying a little more attention to the Bavarian brand than usual. After all, a 100th anniversary comes once in a lifetime! Last week we talked about the most fateful models, and today we’ll talk about the most striking concepts that shone only once, but for good reason.
BMW Turbo Concept (E25) 1972. Announced M1, 8 Series and Z1. Have you ever heard of Paul Braque? Before he was appointed chief designer of BMW, he drew the Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100), 230 SL Pagoda (W113) and a Citroen-based limousine for the French President. At BMW, one of his first major projects was the Turbo Concept, assembled specifically in honor of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Never mind the gullwing doors or the fact that the car is based on a modified 2002 platform. No one knew about it at the time, not even the top brass at BMW. The most important goal of the Turbo Concept was to serve as a design starting point for the M1 supercar, 8 Series Gran Turismo and Z1 Roadster.
Compared to the 277 horsepower of the M1 inline six-cylinder engine in 1978, the Turbo Concept engine produced 280 horsepower 6 years earlier. With. This is quite interesting. The prospects for this direction would be even more interesting if Lamborghini had not left the project after 7 prototypes were built.
BMW Ur-Roadster Concept 1990. Z3 Roadster announced. The Ur-Roadster looks like the Germans decided to improve on the design of the Plymouth Prowler. The history of the original Roadster dates back to the late 1980s, when the sporty offshoot M received its own design department. The first task for the designers was to design a cool sports roadster.
It had to be light, it had to be maneuverable and it had to have an engine compartment that could accommodate 6 cylinders in line. In 1995, that is, five years later, the Ur-Roadster was transformed into the BMW Z3.
The Bavarian automaker was so proud of the car that it paid tons of Deutschmarks to Eon Productions for its role in GoldenEye, the seventeenth film in the James Bond franchise. It is for this reason that by the time the car appeared in dealerships, 15,000 pre-orders had been placed for it.
BMW Z1 Coupe Concept 1991. Announced Z3 Coupe. The Z1 Coupe was an experiment for BMW. As a design development, the Z1 Coupe combined features of such automotive genres as sports car, shooting brake and crossover. Yes, its body was made of plastic, but this fact pales against the background of the model, which was born thanks to a green conceptual vinaigrette.
Five years after the introduction of the Z3 Roadster, the Z3 Coupe came to the world. It had a very controversial design, but even by today's standards it looks cool. It cannot be called beautiful, but the car had plenty of charisma.
Any debate about the Z3 Coupe can be ended by mentioning the Z3M nameplate. The 325-horsepower engine, codenamed S54, spun to a hellish 7,400 rpm. The Z3M was a hero car from the 90s. BMW truly reigned supreme in design this decade.
1991 BMW Z11 Concept and 1993 BMW Z15 Concept. i3 announced. BMW's first electric city car rolled off the assembly line in 2013, that is, 22 years after the Z11. It was an interesting piece of personal transport, although it looked unfinished.
Two years later, BMW refined the design and released the Z15. The main purpose of these cars was to study the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.
What conclusion was reached? BMW considered the idea technically feasible, but the company did not go further because the battery technology of that era is a pathetic hint of today's achievements.
1994 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Concept. ActiveHybrid 5 announced. One of the first modern hybrid cars was a concept based on the 5 Series E34. In the experimental car, the serial engine worked in conjunction with a 26-kilowatt electric motor, powered by lead-acid batteries.
As hybrid technology progressed, BMW used its expertise to introduce the ActiveHybrid 5 in 2011. The hybridized BMW 5 Series, based on the 535i F10 sedan, streamlined BMW's exploration of efficiency and made the eco-conscious crowd happy.
BMW Z07 Concept 1997. Announced Z8. Would you believe that Henrik Fisker, the man responsible for the fiercely beautiful Aston Martin DB9, was responsible for the pre-Z8 prototype? This is why the BMW Z8 looks modern even for 2016.
Compared to the Z07 Concept, which was two years ahead of the production car, the Z8 lost two things. The first is the caudal fin shifted to the left. And the second is a four-spoke steering wheel, which has given way to a three-spoke one. BMW produced 5,703 units. Besides its refined aesthetics, the Z8 had another ace up its sleeve: the S62's 4.9-liter V8, a high-performance engine from the underrated E39 M5.
Some auto journalists didn't like the Z8's handling. The Alpina studio responded to the claim by releasing a series of 555 cars with improved everything... except the engine. Alpina squeezed a 4.6-liter M62 V8 producing 375 horsepower under the Z8's hood. s., that is, demoted the original by 25 forces.
1999 BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept and 2000 BMW Z9 Cabrio Concept. The 6 Series E63 has been announced. The author of the car is Adrian van Hooijdonk, and it cannot be called ideal. She looks obese even by gran turismo standards.
It's rare that a concept looks worse than the production model that follows it. This is what happened with the second generation 6 Series. His prototype is too boring.
If you try to find some advantages, then the attempts will be rewarded. The Z9 twins debuted the Intuitive Interaction Concept, a precursor to the iDrive infotainment system. The Z9 also featured the first-ever non-truck turbodiesel V8. This engine entered the series together with the BMW 740d E65.
BMW Z22 Concept. Announced 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer. And here we are again talking about BMW, as dreary as a rainy Monday morning. The 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer are the first BMWs to feature a front-wheel drive layout. Doesn't this kill the meaning of the slogan "Pleasure to drive"?
The fact is that the BMW Z22 Concept is much more interesting than the production car. When it debuted in 2000, it had 61 registered inventions in the areas of lightweight design, safety, and more. The troublemaker here is carbon fiber reinforced plastic. This material is durable enough to fit high standards collision safety.
Options such as adaptive headlights and a head-up display were implemented on subsequent production models. The most interesting thing on the Z22 is the ignition, activated by a fingerprint sensor in the center of the steering wheel. Isn't this futuristic?
BMW CS1 Concept 2002. Announced 1 Series Cabriolet. The BMW CS1 Concept played a crucial role for BMW in the 21st century because it focused on youthful elegance. In other words, it was BMW trying to make friends with the crowd. The fancy interior didn't make it into production, but much of the exterior made it into the 1 Series Cabriolet.
At the time, the CS1 entered new territory for BMW. It reflected the lifestyle of young people, evoking hints of old BMW models like the 2002.
The BMW 1 Series E87 hatchback changed everything, and the convertible cemented the company's status as "for twenty- and thirty-year-olds." Considering that people in this age group are used to spending money, BMW hit the nail on the head. And all thanks to CS1 Concept.
2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. Announced i8. When this car first appeared in public, everyone thought that BMW would never dare to put it into production. And they were wrong! This concept became the most talked about experimental car in history. Lately, because it looked stunning and was packed with futuristic technologies.
The Vision EfficientDynamics Concept has reached maturity in the form of the i8. In terms of style, the i8 would have had a good chance of making posters in teenagers' bedrooms if it had happened 30 years earlier. Besides, no one could say no to a hybrid that rivaled the M3 in dynamics.
Of course, owning a “green” supercar has its own nuances, but that’s a completely different story.
Few people know and remember that the place of the now centenary BMW in the legendary “German trio” could become vacant by the end of the 50s, and the world would be plunged into sadness without ever seeing the M5, M3, CSL and many other “Bavarians”. Of course, competitors would have made the day of the concern’s fall a red day on the corporate calendar, but the automotive industry would probably have been noticeably different without the legendary “nostrils.” The brand owes its salvation to the modest BMW 700 and its predecessor Isetta, in which the public saw potential, giving the company the opportunity to grow and experiment. It was precisely the attempts to breathe something new into the industry that the Bavarian enterprise made its way into the hearts of millions of people, and this is definitely a good reason to take another look at the most impudent, provocative and, of course, beautiful concept cars from modern history BMW.
1969: BMW Spicup
Presented at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show, this car was the brainchild of the Bertone design house. It was there that they decided to equip the car with retractable steel panels on the roof, a “face” that was terribly similar to the Alfa Montreal and Lamborghini Espada, and a 2.5-liter engine of its own production. By the way, the Spicup exhibition concept was sold a couple of years ago, so the chance of seeing it on the street is negligible, but everyone still has it.
1972: BMW E25 Turbo
The predecessor of the BMW M1 was specially built for the Summer Olympics in Munich to test advanced technologies such as a radar warning system for pedestrians and curbs. The given direction in the design of the E25 Turbo was later picked up not only by the M1, but also by the 8 Series and even the Z1 Roadster.
1991: BMW Nazca
This design debut from 26-year-old Fabrizio Giugiaro, who took inspiration from Formula One and Group C racing, takes some getting used to in order to relate it to the image of a classic BMW. The very light, 1,100-kilogram concept with a carbon fiber body and a panoramic 360-degree view from the cabin had very easy-to-enter gullwing doors.
1995: BMW Z18
Fans of the brand have been begging BMW for more than 20 years for this experiment in creating an off-road roadster to go into production, even despite its rather strange appearance. This is what “hooked” means.
1999: BMW Z9 Gran Turismo
A kind of test of the pen, which marked the return of the 6th series to the modern line, was made by Chris Bangle and presented to the public in 1999. Here we see the gullwing again and ask a fair question: why the hell weren't such doors attached to any production 6-Series model?
2001: BMW X Coupe
The culture shock that visitors to the 2001 Detroit Motor Show experienced with the X Coupe concept is one they still can't recover to this day. BMW challenged preconceptions and pushed the boundaries of reason, completely going too far with the trunk, the role of which is played by almost the entire rear part of the body.
2006: BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia
When creating this project, BMW designers apparently got used to the image of a Chicago mafioso from the 50s, prone to futuristic fantasies. Indeed, the car looks cosmically retrospective, although nothing can suppress the features of the classic 328 in it.
2007: BMW Concept CS
Smooth lines, which, however, do not mislead about the explosive nature of the power plant in this car, are combined with a low landing and a shark-like “nosed” profile. Comparable to the 7-Series, the Concept CS was a hair's breadth away from the series, but at the end of 2008 this idea had to be abandoned due to not too much enthusiasm from the public. Perhaps in vain.
2008: BMW GINA
Simple words about this model end, it’s only worth mentioning that it is based on the platform from the Z8 roadster. Next comes a continuous flight of design imagination from Chris Bangle, who emphasizes that in the future, buyers will themselves shape the appearance of their cars. Leather upholstery not on the inside, but on the outside - although this is very cool, it is, apparently, still too bold for the time when every hooligan can have a knife or scissors with him.
2008: BMW M1 Hommage
In the same year, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the release of the M1, BMW's first true supercar, the company presented at Concorso d'Eleganza a literal homage to the legendary car. The same proportions, the same earthiness and daring of the 70s, but served with a sauce from hot flamenco design by Chris Bangle.
2009: BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics
One of the most discussed concepts of the time promised “sweets without consequences” or, simply, high performance with minimal CO2 emissions. There were unique figures of less than 100 g/km with M3-level power, but these figures were also surpassed in the i8, albeit much later.
2011: BMW Vision Connected Drive
Almost all smart car technologies have been tested on VCD - a 3D projection display, a browser-predictor of the situation in the area you are in this moment you drive by, and, of course, the first thing visible is the LED lighting of the car body.
2011: BMW 328 Hommage
In another tribute to the company's history, the iconic BMW racing car has been reincarnated into a carbon fiber and reinforced plastic body with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine instead of a heart.
2012: BMW Zagato Coupe
Having made its debut at the same Concorso d'Eleganza, this car was assembled by hand in the same way as the 328 sports cars in the 30s of the last century. Despite the fact that the Vmax concept into which this model was included implies that it should first of all, just to drive quickly, the designers perfectly diluted the classic Bavarian before elements like the double “wave” on the roof and the famous Kamm tail.
2014: BMW Vision Gran Turismo
At the moment, the only disadvantage of this concept is that it was created only in virtual space specifically for the game Gran Turismo 6. The digital sports car, of course, has simply excellent weight indicators (1180 kilograms), ideal load distribution on the axles and excellent performance with 3 -liter six-cylinder engine. So we agree to lower the degree of anticipation even a little, if only the concept will someday go to a real race track.
2015: 3.0 CSL Hommage
Since the original CLS forever took its place on the walk of fame, then BMW, creating a concept based on it, had to try hard to be at least somehow remembered. This “canary fireworks”, released at the Italian Villa d'Este Concours, coped with the task completely, making everyone forget about the “Batmobile” for a while, as the classic CLS is called differently.
2016: BMW i Vision Future Interaction
It is logical that this bundle of technology was presented not at a car show, but at the Consumer Electronics Show - there is so much in it innovative ideas and their embodiments in simple but necessary details. Most of them directly relate to how the driver interacts with the car and all his electronic gadgets. For example, this concept takes over control without any extra requests, as soon as a call is received on the phone, and the giant electronic panel understands the control gestures of the driver and passenger.
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In most cases, concept cars are created as part of a particular auto show in order to demonstrate the best discoveries and achievements of the company, as well as to obtain the opinions of the public and experts. After the end of the exhibition, the concept is put away in a warehouse and is not remembered again.
But one cannot but agree that using conceptual models it is quite interesting to observe the development of the history of design thought, to monitor which solutions and elements were used in production cars and which were simply abandoned.
10. BMW X Coup? Concept 2001
The premiere took place at the Detroit Auto Show. From a design perspective, X Coup? was fundamentally different from all the models created by the company before, and became a logical step in the evolution of car design of the German concern.
At the very beginning of the 21st century, the lines between traditional classes of cars began to blur, only in 1999 the first-born BMW X5 appeared and designers under the leadership of Chris Bangle began attempts to cross a coupe with a crossover. Perhaps the modern BMW X6 has distant echoes of X Coup?.
Although the concept name contains the letter X, most of the solutions and elements were adopted passenger cars BMW. For example, the headlights resonate with the BMW 1 Series, while the curved convex lines of the body and rear lights are reminiscent of the BMW Z4 E85.
What is striking in the interior is the steering wheel, which will later be used on the 5 Series sedan (e60), and the iDrive system, a project for which will not appear soon.
9. BMW Z22 Concept 2000
The world saw this concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The show took place at the car showroom of the same name. The appearance of the car does not impress with its novelty or beauty of design, but this is not the main thing. The purpose of creating this prototype was to familiarize the public with the symbiosis of innovative electronic technologies and a traditional car. Many of the systems presented then are installed on modern production models.
The BMW Z22 Concept was equipped with:
- Electronic system of exchange rate stability and headlight leveling.
- Fingerprint scanner.
- Rear-view mirrors with built-in cameras that transmit a signal to the display in the cabin, which displays a panorama of three images.
- Hmi – Human Machine Interface, now known as iDrive. First installed on the Z9 at IAA in 1999, and then moved to the Z22.
- A system for projecting information onto the windshield of a car.
The BMW Z22 Concept combines electronic control systems for the gas pedal, steering gear, ignition key and handbrake. New systems took the place of mechanical connections and mechanisms, and also provided flexibility in achieving safety and gave scope to designers.
8. BMW Turbo Concept 1972
At the opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, BMW presented a new project, the “Turbo Concept”. The prototype was intended as a visual demonstration innovative technologies in the field of safety and motor engineering. The company also wanted to emphasize that the German automaker has left the difficult period of the 60s behind.
Back then, few could have imagined that BMW's only supercar to date would inherit the concept of this impressive prototype.
7. BMW Concept CS 2007
It was the first step in mastering a promising segment - a four-door coupe. This prototype combines the dynamics and character of a 6 Series coupe with the comfort and refinement of a 7 Series.
Many of the design solutions of the prototype will subsequently be implemented in production models. It is worth noting the wide radiator grilles, which migrated to the 7 Series of 2008, and the climate control unit handles, which found application on the Z4 (E89).
Soon the very idea of a four-door coupe will be embodied in a production model, the release of which is just around the corner.
6. BMW M1 Hommage Concept 2008
It was presented at an exhibition of automotive rarities called Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The exhibition was organized in honor of the thirty summer anniversary BMW M1.
The management of the BMW Group assures that this is just a present to themselves for memorable date. In fact, many elements of this prototype, most notably the front end, are now used in the BMW i8 hybrid.
5. BMW Concept Gran Coupe 2010
The premiere took place as part of the Design Night event in Beijing. The concept was presented as a logical continuation of the study of the idea of a four-door coupe, which originated in the earlier BMW Concept CS project, with the only difference being that the design of the new prototype is almost complete. To confirm this, the new BMW 6 Series has the same front end and rear end.
The BMW 6 series Gran Coupe is based on this concept car with minimal changes. Testing of the car is in full swing and next year we will be able to enjoy the production model.
4. BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept 1999
He became the main sensation at the Frankfurt auto show in 1999. Back then, the public and experts admired the massive doors that rose up or opened in the traditional way. We now understand that the design and technical equipment of this prototype predetermined the direction of development of BMW for the next 10 years.
Under the hood of the concept is the world's first V8 turbodiesel with direct injection, created using unique common rail technology. The BMW 740d model, released this year, received a similar power unit.
BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept was the impetus for development diesel engines, which from noisy and smelly tractor engines have turned into powerful, economical and high-speed engines.
A year after the presentation of the Z9, the new 7 Series (E65) was released, borrowing from the concept the steering wheel, dashboard and central tunnel, on which the iDrive joystick first appeared.
And in 2003, the BMW 6 Series (E63) was released, in which the features of the Z9 Gran Turismo Concept are visible to the naked eye, especially the nose and the bend of the trunk.
3. BMW 328 Hommage Concept 2011
To celebrate the 75th birthday of one of the most famous models of the 30s - the BMW 328 roadster, the BMW 328 Hommage concept car was shown. The name Hommage means “homage, homage,” which is a perfect way to describe this prototype.
Karl Baumer, Head of BMW Group Classic, says: “With the release of Hommage, we would like to honor the passion and ingenuity of the designers of the BMW 328. They managed to create a car - a legend, the release of which is considered a red day in the calendar of the history of the industry.”
The concept brings the character and principles of the car of the 1930s into our era and demonstrates possible variant how the designers of the past, Rudolf Schleicher and Fritz Fiedler, could design the BMW 328 today using modern technology.
It's not hard to see that the prototype is partly styled after the Vision ConnectedDrive concept car. Moreover, it is its antipode, if one is a reflection of the latest achievements of the company, then the Bavarians equipped the BMW 328 Hommage with such archaisms as leather belts covering the hood of the car, in the spirit of a classic model, and chronometers.
2. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept 2009
If the BMW Z9 GT defined the company's direction for the first ten years of the 21st century, then it is very likely that the BMW Vision EffecientsDynamics will do so for the second decade. Note the concept's prominent radiator grille, the same design element featured on the new BMW 3 Series F30.
Besides the fantastic appearance, the prototype has modern technologies, such as a lightweight carbon body, and most importantly, a hybrid power plant.
This year, the concept car has evolved almost unchanged into, the release date of which is scheduled for 2013.
1. BMW GINA Light Visionary Model Concept Car 2008
The project marked the peak of Chris Bangle's career at BMW. He claimed that GINA allowed him to "challenge traditional processes and principles"
“GINA” is an acronym that spells out “Geometry and functions in ‘N’ Adaptations,” which in Russian means “Geometry and functions in the nth number of adaptations.”
The key letter in the acronym is the letter “A” - adaptation. The car covering is an almost seamless, damage-resistant and waterproof fabric. The cladding is stretched over a movable structure, thanks to which the designers achieved opening/closing of the hood and headlights.
