BMW has revealed a very special concept at the Concorso d’Eleganza, the 2002 Hommage.This striking, but fiercely potent little machine, celebrates the 50th anniversaryof the debut of the original 02 range.

The original 02 series is considered BMW’s first compact coupe and kicked off a successful era for the German car maker. The 2002 Turbo, on the other hand, was this model range's flagship and harnessed turbo power – the first for a series-production carin Europe. It is this firecracker that is celebrated by the new2002 Hommage concept.

“The eye-catching design of the BMW 2002 Hommage employs a very dynamic, striking use of forms for its own take on what is, for me, one of the most iconic vehicles in BMW history,” says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles. “At the same time, it encapsulates BMW’s major motor sport triumphs, which were made possible by turbo technology”.

A particularly striking feature of the car’s flanks are the widened wheel arches, whichadd stature and presence. In the process, they recall the homologated version of the BMW 2002 turbo, which needed broad extensions bolted onto its body to accommodate a significantly wider track. The wheels are 20-inches big and cast from lightweight alloy.

The BMW Motorsport livery of the front apron and its “turbo” lettering in mirror writing casts the mind back to the original decals of the 2002 turbo, as does the exterior mirror cap on the driver’s side.

Much like the Hommage concept from last year, there’s no plan to put this vehicle into production. Hence, there are no engine details at all but we can imagine something like the straight-six 3-litre from the M2 doing a decent job. With the 2002 Hommage concept BMW has once again the Concorso d’Eleganza as a marketing ploy to get people excited about its brand. Job very welldone in that regard!

BMW 2002 Hommage Video