This year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa de’Este held on the gleaming shores of Lake Como in Italy, saw just what the visionaries at BMW Design are truly capable of. BMW showed the world its tribute to the timeless bejewelled classic of the 70’s, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage.
Originally introduced in May of 1972, the 3.0 CSL was built primarily for the ETCC ( European Touring Car Championship ). BMW accomplished this by using thinner gauge steel for the body, deleted interior trimmings, light-weight aluminum for the bonnet, boot lid and doors, with Perspex replacing the glass. Propulsion was provided by a 3,003cc straight-six engine. As a result of this extreme diet, the predestined track dominatrix is 200kg lighter than the road going 3.0CS model ( BMW fitted the CSL with a ludicrous aero-kit earning it the name ‘The Batmobile’ ). Like the i8, the 3.0 CSL Hommage is an –all-wheel-drive.
The 3.0 CSL Hommage makes good use of space-age materials such as carbon fibre – or carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) that has been gracefully sculpted to reflect BMW’s racing heritage and exudes utter elegance of design that continues to win the hearts of fans and purists.
The front end lays claim to being one of the broadest, low slung in the BMW family. Judging by the spatial depth and size of its hallmark designed kidney grille is an indication of the true beast that lives under the bonnet. BMW have not said much about the engine, except that it is a straight-six cylinder engine that’s equipped with an eBoost hybrid system.
Making its cameo appearance here is the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) used as the next-gen halo-esque DRL (Day Running Lights) and BMW’s Laser Lighting technology that has been incorporated into the headlight assembly, first seen on the BMW i8 super-hybrid model. Arranged in an X-formation, it conjures up memories of the headlight stickers originally used in the motorsport icon of the 70’s.
Similar styling cues have been employed for the vehicles rear design. Broad muscular elements bring out the immense presence of the 3.0 CSL Hommage. A particular highlight is the LED light that links the rear tail-lamps via the the CFRP spoiler.
The interior however is homage to minimalism. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage puts its lightweight design on show and renders its racing character ever so elegantly. All interior elements and fixtures are there out of absolute necessity, every part has a high-quality design, structural or drive-related function to it. The steering wheel that greets you looks like it was taken straight out of a Formula One car.
Furthermore, you are seated snugly into quilted carbon fibre moulded bucket seats secured firmly in place by a five-point seatbelt just as one would rightly expect. The Tron-esque all-CFRP interior features a wood-like dashboard that houses the instrument panel, eBoost display and the minimalist infotainment system.
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