BMW 2002 Hommage – latest reminder of a turbo past

Downsized turbo engines are the norm today, and no one is spared from the tightening noose of emissions and fuel economy – not even Porsche and Ferrari. BMW held on for as long as they could as a mainstream premium brand, but we eventually had to bid farewell to BMW and the M division’s fine naturally-aspirated engines.

In a bid to tell us that turbo is sexy and forced induction had a successful history, Munich is presenting the BMW 2002 Hommage at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, wearing a racy Jägermeister-style new livery. The 2002 Hommage was first presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May, and that car had a normal paint job.

“The BMW 2002 Hommage celebrates the extraordinary feats of engineering on which BMW turbo technology is based and re-interprets them in the form of a design study. With its iconic orange/black paintwork, the car has a colour scheme and livery synonymous in the minds of many motor sport fans with the triumphs of the 1970s,” said Karim Habib, BMW’s head of design.

The 2002 Hommage’s compact proportions, long wheelbase, short overhangs and prominent shark nose combine well with large spoilers and the many air intakes and exits. Those wheel arches are not to be missed; they recall the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, which needed broad bolt-on extensions to accommodate a significantly wider track.

The 2002 Hommage features a unifying carbon fibre “waterline” to connect many of the car’s formal elements, an obvious reference of the original 2002. The elaborate 20-inch rims recall the rollers of bygone eras, while gold-coloured brake calipers add a touch of retro.

The front end’s styling bridges a gap of 50 years in combining the characteristic, horizontal grill graphic of the 02 series with modern elements of BMW design. The bonnet references the “spear” contour stretching down the centre of the 02 models that swells slightly into a surround for the logo as it approaches the kidney grille.

Like the BMW 2002, the Hommage has two single round headlights; the yellow hue was commonly found in the headlamps of race cars back in the day. The large front apron is another nod to the 70s.

The rear end of the 2002 Hommage also calls on elements of the 2002 turbo. An obvious example is the asymmetric BMW logo placement to the right of the license plate. A carbon diffuser integrates the now familiar two sets of twin exhaust tailpipes.

Lastly, that turbo heritage. In 1973, the 2002 turbo became the first series-produced vehicle in Europe to feature turbo technology, a move that also turned the BMW 02 into a full-on sports car. BMW says that the advent of turbo engine tech pointed the way for both the development of the sportiest BMW sedans and milestones such as the first F1 World Championship title for a turbocharged car – won by Nelson Piquet in 1983. These days, every BMW owner can enjoy the boost.

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