Second debut today in Pebble Beach was the improved version of the previously unveiled BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage. Using the same concept name plus the added “R” after (which stands for Racing), the new 3.0 CSL concept pays tribute to the original racing car of the 70s.
Instead of the neon yellow color that adorned the original CSL Hommage, the Hommage R comes with the same racing livery as Redman’s 1975 race car. BMW’s chief designer, Karim Habib, says the car was always intended to come with the racing livery.
When dressed up like the original race car, the 3.0 CSL Hommage R looks purposeful and aggressive and absolutely fantastic, as does the rest of the car. Despite having the BMW Concept M4 GTS as the main car at the event, the Hommage racing car was the one that drew the most attention from journalists and VIP guests.
The interior seems to be where BMW spent most of its development time, however. While the exterior is polarizing, with its extreme styling, the interior is simplistic and utilitarian. Designed specifically to aid a racing driver wearing a full racing suit and helmet, the CSL Hommage R’s interior is sculpted around the driver’s seat.
The suit itself is another story and BMW says they worked closely with PUMA to design a high-tech racing suit. If both the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel, illuminated piping integrated into the sleeves of the suit shows the progress of information – from the shift impulse display, for example – out of the steering column over the driver’s arms and into his visor.
BMW is not saying if this tech will arrive in the near future, but they hinted that some aspects of it will certainly be part of our racing cars in the future.
Here is a photo gallery from the event:
Still not digging the kidney grilles… but side view of the car looks great!
Dat last photo though yep when i first saw it some element looked weird but now damn what a looker this thing !
is this coming into production or what?
The oversized kidneys absolutely ruin the look of the car.
I was criticising them oversized kidneys on several occasions, but weirdly on this car… I like’em :)
btw. look at the original car, they are huge as well ;-)
Not anywhere near as huge as those garish ones on the Hommage.
hmm… looks awesome. But what is it for if it never makes its way into production? Awesome as they might be, I’m becoming to be quite tired of BMW’s concept cars.
I’m digging it. Great photos, keep up the good work!
The kidney grills make the front of this car look like a rat.
Is the screen showing Laguna Seca a digital face or is it just for display purposes?
Digital
I think the designs that end up in the Mercedes and Audi scrap piles are probably better than anything BMW has developed over the last two decades. Bangle sure left a huge skid mark.