News Source: topspeed.com

Seven years since it unveiled the M1 Hommage,  a concept car  paying tribute to the iconic M1,  or BMW’s  only true-blue sports car  as of 2015, the Bavarian automaker has announced plans  to introduce the 3.0 CSL Hommage at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza  Villa d’Este. As the name suggests, this new concept celebrates the 3.0 CSL,  an homologation special launched in 1972 and the brand’s most successful race car.  Nicknamed the "Batmobile" due to its extreme aerodynamic package, the 3.0 CSL scored resounding wins at Sebring, Daytona and Talladega, where it defeated the Porsche 935, among other famous race cars. With more than 100 wins under its belt, the 3.0 CSL definitely deserves a modern homage.

For now, however, BMW only released a teaser of the 3.0 CSL Hommage, depicting some of the concept car’s rear end. The Germans did provide a few hints as to what the CSL Hommage is all about, but it seems we won’t see it in all its glory until Villa d’Este commences on May 22nd. Until then, I’ll just go ahead and speculate based on the very little info BMW decided to throw at us and what I already know about the original 3.0 CSL.

BMW describes the 3.0 CSL Hommage as a concept that "exudes sheer dynamics" through its "striking air deflectors, powerful wheel arches, and subtle and finely sculpted surfaces." To me, it’s the perfect description for the classic 3.0 CLS, which means BMW took this project very seriously.

The attention to detail is again evident in the only teaser BMW has released thus far. An impressive number of details from the original "Batmobile" have been replicated for the Hommage, including the massive rear fenders, the large rear wing and the roof spoiler. Even the taillights are reminiscent of the 3.0 CSL’s, even though they now extend into the fenders and wing.

Other genuine 3.0 CSL features I spotted in the teaser include the stripe running along the beltline, the Hofmeister Kink in the quarter window, and the BMW badge on the C-pillar.

Although I don’t have access to the rest of the car, I’m sure the front end will also remain true to the original car, though most features will updated to a more modern design. Much like the M1 Hommage, I expect the 3.0 CSL Hommage’s front end to be sleeker, thanks to a pair of slimmer headlamps and a wider twin-kidney grille. A split spoiler is possible too. On the other hand, I don’t see any chrome inserts on the wheel arches and BMW will probably drop the black trim flanking the engine hood.

Whatever the case, it should be a stunning piece, at least in the eye of the 3.0 CSL enthusiast. Oh, and it will be a lightweight concept with many of its body panels made from carbon fiber, according to BMW. Yes, the original car had no such thing, but it’s the 21st century now!

Note: Original BMW 3.0 CSL interior pictured
Instead of photos, BMW settled for another dose of fancy PR talk describing the cabin as a "combination of lightweight design, sportiness and elegance." The company mentions stuff such as "high-quality structural or driving-related function, technical supremacy, and formal sophistication."

So what does it all mean? Well, most likely BMW will use the 3.0 CSL Hommage to showcase some of its latest in-car technology and a new approach on interior design. I expect this new interior to blend cues from both the original 3.0 CSL and current BMWs, with a futuristic approach. Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminum should be visible all around the place. As usual, a range of high-grade leathers and Alcantara will cover some of the surfaces.

Note: BMW M5 twin-turbo V-8 (S63) pictured
There’s no word on what drivetrain might motivate the 3.0 CSL Hommage and there’s a strong possibility this concept won’t even have an engine. If it does, I expect it to feature a high-performance hybrid drivetrain, probably similar to the one in the BMW i8. 

As a brief reminder, the i8 features a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that delivers 231 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. Driving the front wheels is an electric motor that produces 131 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. Combined, the drivetrain pumps out 362 horses and 420 pound-feet of twist through a six-speed automatic transmission mated to the gasoline engine and a two-stage transmission connected to the electric motor. It’s great to see BMW look back upon its glorious past for a futuristic concept seven years since it did the same with the M1 Hommage. Unfortunately, much like the M1 concept, the 3.0 CSL will probably remain just a study, with very few features to be used in future production cars. As cool as it make sound, a revival of the 3.0 CSL wouldn’t make much sense, especially with the M4  around as the brand’s high-performance compact coupe.  Still, the 3.0 CSL Hommage should be an impressive effort, and we’ll find out more about that at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Press Release

On 22 May 2015, the BMW Group will unveil the new BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage to the global public for the first time at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This model is the BMW Design Team’s tribute to the BMW 3.0 CSL, a timeless classic and iconic BMW Coupe from the 1970s. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage is a nod to the engineering achievement exemplified by the BMW 3.0 CSL in its lightweight design and performance. The Hommage draws on the character of the earlier model and endows it with cutting-edge materials to translate it into the present in a new and exciting guise.

Exclusive, confident, athletic: the exterior design.

The design of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage exudes sheer dynamics, with the body framed by striking air deflectors, powerful wheel arches and a prominent roof and rear spoiler. The stretched flanks serve as an elegant counterpoint to the distinctly sporty front and rear end. Subtle and finely sculpted surfaces convey dynamics and exclusivity, while the extensive use of carbon fibre for the lower section highlights the car’s systematic lightweight design concept.

Elegant purism: the interior design.

The rigorously pared-down interior of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage renders its lightweight concept not only visible but tangible as well. All the elements in the cabin are absolutely essential and each constituent has a high-quality structural or driving-related function. In its materials and detail solutions, the Hommage displays technical supremacy and formal sophistication. Like the interior as a whole, it reflects the special character of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage, embodying as it does a consummate combination of lightweight design, sportiness and elegance.