Paying Hommage:</br> BMW’s 3.0 CSL Concept

It’s not uncommon for auto manufacturers to delve into their pasts for inspiration, but BMW has taken that notion to the extreme with its latest concept car: the 3.0 CSL Hommage

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Unveiled at the annual Concorso d’Eleganza held at Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on the shoreline of Lake Como in Italy over the weekend, the 3.0 CSL Hommage was built by the BMW Design Team to celebrate the iconic 3.0 ‘Coupé Sport Leichtbau’ (coupé, sport, lightweight) from the ’70s.

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That original 3.0 CSL was born purely out of BMW’s desire to win the European Touring Car Championship. Initially the German automaker had used the beautiful E9 3.0 CS as the base for its works race cars, but with Ford dominating the class in its Cologne-built Capris, something a little more serious was called for. Based on the CSi (Coupé Sport, injected) version, the stripped-back-for-racing-homologation CSL received an aluminum hood, trunk and fenders, plus polycarbonate windows – and along with a front bumper delete, a plastic rear bumper and a bare-bones interior, a 200kg-odd weight savings was realized. Eventually sprouting wild aero through a ‘racing kit’, plus even wider dimensions for racing (there were some big tires to contain!), it’s not hard to see why ‘Batmobile’ became its moniker.

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Like its name suggests, the 3.0 CSL Hommage takes its cues from the racing legend with spectacular results. On the design study, Head of BMW Design, Karim Habib, says: “For BMW designers like us, the BMW 3.0 CSL is a style icon. Its combination of racing genes and elegance generates an engaging aesthetic that continues to win hearts even today. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage celebrates many of those characteristic features, but without copying them. Indeed, some of the parallels are not immediately obvious. We wanted people to sense the family resemblance rather than see it straight off.”

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Despite 40-odd years of separation, it’s not hard to see hints of the original in the 3.0 CSL Hommage’s dramatic exterior. Carbon fiber abound, the long body features distinctive air deflectors to vent the engine bay, wings over the rear wheels to push air around the car efficiently, and a large integrated rear wing to increase downforce over the rear axle. There are plenty of little details too, like small rearward-facing cameras in the place of traditional-type side mirrors, there to reduce aerodynamic drag.

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BMW is renowned for its high-spec interiors, and even though the 3.0 CSL Hommage is built around a racing vision, it hasn’t come at the expense of elegance in the cockpit. Not by a long shot. Carbon fiber meets aluminum detailing in the cabin, but again there’s a tie in to the past with the wood trim dash insert.

For now the 3.0 CSL Hommage will remain a concept, but who wouldn’t want to see this car in production?!

The Speedhunters

Photos: BMW

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1
The average guy

the BMW kidneys are way too big, other than that, it's nice. especially how the rear wing grows out of the body..

2

The rear needs little intakes like the original or a mad diffuser, the back still looks like clay. The front bumper is also soo curved and not shark like enough. But it still looks stunning.

3

Personally, I love this concept. I've always liked the aesthetics of a flying buttress, and this car definitely has that look.

4

The average guy i agree on the kidney thing... i think it looked better here: http://www.gran-turismo.com/images/c/i1Xs4rdIes3kpG.jpg the side's, the current prototype side, rear, and interior are fantastic... its the front that is difficult to look at

6

Yeah, no thanks BMW. I don't like it, bit ugly and I really can't see any resemblance between this and the old one. Sorry but it's ugly.

7
KarelKazSysala

I am sorry but the front end is absolutely horrible.I want to like it,really.But damn,those kidneys are ruining it yet again.

8

Love the concept, 3.0 CSL's were (and still are) amazing.

I hate the grille and for godsake BMW there's other colors in your color palette then the vibrant-urine color.

Bring on the production version, please please keep those seats.

9
KaloyanNikolov

The average guy  I agree. The overall idea sound's great, especially how the fenders stand out and then blend again with the design... But they turned the shark into a boar, all thanks to the enormous kidneys.

10
JelioIvanovIvanov

With such legacy BMW don't have any right to produce such amazing nonsense of over exaggerated details.
Those kidneys are a step away from becoming one single grill on a car like a RR. And the back end looks like a KIA concept.
This is a hommage done right.
http://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/bmw-328-hommage-13.jpg


And why the DTM style steering wheel?

11

new supra anyone?

12

Perfection!! The body lines and the style is just the way it should be (crazy stylish kinda street car)
I think the interior is simple and exotic with bmw style of rally car which 3.0CSL is.


Only thing I don't like is KIDNEYS they are to big and rocks and debris will get through them, easily punch a hole in radiator and how much money would that be.Rear spoiler is a bit too long and rear bumper is cool and all but it is a bit too smooth for my style.

13

This should totally be a production model. I mean, BMW and their naming is just absurd at this point. If they made this, it would at least add some visual diversity to their lineup.

14

wow, that got hit with every branch of the ugly tree......

15

As i said the first time i saw it, i like the tail lights and rear wing. That's it.

16

I'm still unsure how I really feel about this, all the bits are there but it just looks really awkward and not quite right. The whole front end looks incredibly awkward, and the back end almost looks as if it was designed by someone completely different

17
tenpennyjimmy

Wow, Speedhunters readers are hard to please ;)

I vote yes with only minor reservations, eg round steering wheel please and those big kidneys need to be in FLAT black (as should the front splitter and side skirts).

18

That old one is way better.

19

Ugh. I wouldn't have bothered if I was BMW

20

Dont see the point of blue balling us like this. Make it or dont even show it. Mind you, I dont know how would you open the hood, but otherwise all is well hahaha.

21

BMW should bring back the more vertically pronounced kidneys..

22

The average guy I like new kidneys the most. After all its a trend - make the front bigger. Look at audi, soon there will be no lights even, just a big intercooler.

23

Narrow up that grill and redesign the chin spoiler so it doesnt look like a fat lip and you got a winner. I really love the c piller treatment and i could see that making it onto a production car.

24

paint the aero in the centre of the tail lights a different colour and the rear wouldn't be so gormless. Other than that I quite like it, paint it art car colours though.

25

It is a bit shocking but IMO there's a nice car hidden under those fussy folding wheel arches, the glasshouse has a very sleek profile but the car does feel heavy in front and rear 3/4 shots... I cant believe im saying this but a 'tamed' version might actually be more appealing!

26

The C pillar is called the "Hofmeister Kink" in homage to Wilhelm Hofmeister, BMW's design director from the era of the original CSL.

27

JelioIvanovIvanov i agree, just don't forget that they also did a good job with the M1 concept hommage, at least in my opinion. 
http://www.ausmotive.com/images/BMW-M1-homage-01.jpg

28

I really want this concept wears the traditional livery too!

29

Could have done much better with the front, especially those fender-hood-vent-things. Don't even know what purpose those are supposed to serve. Rest of the car's pretty good though.

30

BMW was one of those companies that understood square as style - did it well.  Very well.  Why must every damned manufacturer follow each others tails with the same damned soft lines and sweeps.  How about a revival of squared styling?  And Stick Shift.  There are still plenty of us who like using ALL our limbs to drive - and plenty of this group are proudly training our kids to do the same.  Thoughts?

31
DoritoSpinner

t5endorphin cuz aerodynamics and efficiency. which neither hard lines or manuals provide now.

32
JelioIvanovIvanov

IgorWilbert JelioIvanovIvanov
Yes you are right. I simply forgot it.
The M1 was a poised and fluid piece of art.

33

Yes I'm aware, I should have clarified what I ment. I like how its chunkier especially at the base. The chrome trim strip really sets it off. The roundel is a really nice touch too. Thats how you do retro without being too on the nose about it.

35

I think I can hear it weeping "kill, me..."

36

DoritoSpinner t5endorphin 
Pardon me, then.
I thought I was on a site / article aimed at those who love performance driving,
who would pay through the nose to change out their stock ride in order to increase it's control and responsiveness - at the cost of efficiency,
who would gladly trade mpg for ass saving downforce,
who don't gut their car's interior for fuel efficiency but for added performance,
and who've loved auto racing as long as they can remember.
Yup.  My bad.

BTW, you might enjoy some of the Hyundais offered these days.
Similar style, efficiency, and aerodynamics.
And, of course, there's always Prius . . .

Cheers!

37

I think the Vision GT concept pays more respect to the csl than this design

38

t5endorphin DoritoSpinner No need to be a jerk.

You asked a question, you were given a totally valid answer.

Car companies cater for the masses which, as Dorito points out, is all about efficiency.

39

Horrible front end!

40

MilesHayler t5endorphin DoritoSpinner
BMW "ultimate driving machine" became "sheer driving pleasure" became "efficient dynamics" boooooo

41

Zebra P Knee MilesHayler t5endorphin DoritoSpinner Sadly, yes.

42

How would you get under the hood?

43

DoritoSpinner t5endorphin An apology I owe to DoritoSpinner, et all.  Now that I have reread what I wrote and see that, indeed, I did ask for feedback - good, bad, or otherwise, I was completely out of line for jumping on your opinion - as well as being so sarcastic in my response.  In short, I was being a jackass and must review and edit what I write before posting it.

Thank you all who pointed this out as your effort will make the internet, and the world, a better place.
Peace.
Out.

44

I think i'm in love O.O <3<3<3<3

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