New BMW 328 Hommage

BMW has uncovered a surprise new car this weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este classic car show, to mark 75 years of the BMW 328.

Gallery: BMW 328 Hommage

The BMW 328 Hommage is an amazing modern day reinterpretation of the 1930s classic, which BMW has dramatically debuted at the lavish Italian classic show.

It is the latest in BMW’s line of ‘Hommage cars’. These are design studies created by BMW’s chief stylists, which are their take on how a model line could have evolved had it remained in production.

The first BMW Hommage car was the 2008 BMW M1 Hommage: expect such models to become a BMW staple in future years, as a celebration of the firm’s past icons.

Style by BMW design director Adrian Van Hooydonk, the BMW 328 Hommage is a streamlined design with the ‘taut surfacing’ style that seems to be developing into a future BMW theme.

The silhouette is flat with a strong wedge shape and a distinctive front bonnet line. All design elements have been done to make the 328 Hommage look very low, wide and sporting.

The kidney grille is also prominent, while the leather straps and distinctive alloy wheels with ‘knock-off’ centre bolts further add to the retro air. It is an incredible-looking machine that you can seem more of in the MSN Cars BMW 328 Hommage gallery.

LIGHTWEIGHT

The original BMW 328 was a lightweight machine that weighed just 780kg. Reflecting this, the BMW 328 Hommage is also designed with weight saving in mind. There is ample use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic – CFRP – on both the body panels and interior. BMW says it’s an insight into how future production cars will develop.

The 328 Hommage also has no doors, just like the original. Instead, there are recesses in the side: BMW chose not to develop electric slide-down doors like the BMW Z1 famously driven by Jeremy Clarkson’s wife.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre straight six engine, though BMW isn’t saying which fuel powers it.

Racing principals are used inside, too. The instrument pack, for instance, shows only engine speed, oil temperature, water temperature and oil pressure. Racing seats with four-point harnesses (and retro soft tan leather) are fitted, and there’s a motorsport-style emergency cut-off for the electronics.

Gallery: BMW 328 Hommage