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This is the BMW M1 Homage, a concept created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the M1 and designed as a tribute to the classic Giugiaro-designed BMW supercar.
The M1’s predecessor, the BMW Turbo concept designed by Paul Bracq, has also been used as inspiration for the M1 Homage concept.
Chris Bangle, director of design for BMW, said, “For a company as for a product, it is important to be aware of one’s roots. In the spirit of Giugiaro and Bracq, the M1 Homage unites the BMW values of ...Read the full article

Is it possible that BMW are looking to compete with Audi's R8. I never believe it when a manufacturer says a concept is "purely a design exercise".

Amazing how over detailed and complicated looking this car is compared to the original M1...

I've got to agree. I like a concept car as much as the next person but I looked at this one and thought: why? The overall proportions are fine (copied from the original, so the designers can hardly claim plaudits for that!) but the details are fussy and complicated; it says nothing about future BMW design language or technology The car is supposed to be an 'homage' to the M1. To me it smacks of a lazy design team with budget to squander. Lamborghini tried this with an 'homage' to the Miura and got a kicking for it. Weren't BMW watching?

The front looks unfinished and those wheels are hideous; please BMW try again.

To quote an acquaintance of mine 'It looks like a Pantera with a nasty body-kit' 

eekamouse:

Amazing how over detailed and complicated looking this car is compared to the original M1...

 

Spot on. I can see where they're coming from with the wheels, but the end result is pure pie-dish. 

I presume this will form the basis of an R8 rival.  Amazingly it's already beaten the R8 in one area that I thought it could never be beaten, it's vile looks.  Audi and BMW seem to be competing at just how vulgar they have to make their cars look before people will stop buying them.

i'm as big a BMW fan as they come, but whilst i don't hate this design, it doesn't turn me on either.

the nose is reminiscent of a hooded alien or something off doctor who

but who knows... perhaps it'll grow with a less extreme treatment on a mainstream model.

 

Couldn't disagree more guys.  I'm the first to criticise Chris Bangle - what he did to the 7-series is unforgivable - but I love this beast.  With broad shoulders, mean lights and awesome colour interpretation, I think it's a terrific fusion of past and present.

The wheels are an update of the originals.