BMW M1 homage

The BMW M1 Homage was created to celebrate a 1970s original, show how the car would have been changed for today, and what might be possible in the future.

The original M1 was launched in the late 1970s as a mid-engined supercar to redefine the performance benchmark for German luxury brands.

It used a development of the inline M-series six already used in the 6 Series coupe of the same era, but had a 0-100km/h sprint time in the low six-second range and a top speed beyond 250km/h. Those were impressive numbers for the time.

But BMW had even bigger plans for the M1 and it became a serious racer.

The M1 made its name in Procar as a string of big-name drivers in the early ‘80s — including Australia’s Alan Jones and triple world champion Niki Lauda — took guest drives in the ultimate one-make series.

They delighted in flinging the car, which was powered by a 630kW turbocharged engine, around the same tracks where they raced their grand prix cars. And they made big cash with plenty of prizemoney on offer.

The Procar series created some torrid racing and another piece of history when pop art legend Andy Warhol created the fourth of BMW’s fully functional “Art Car” masterpieces. It even raced at Le Mans in 1979, finishing sixth overall.

The original M1 was a limited-edition supercar but the Homage is even more exclusive, as there is only one.

BMW says it is a “design study”, which means despite enthusiasm from many M1 fans, it will never become a production car.

The design of the new coupe has strong links to the original M1 in everything from air vents in the bonnet, louvres on the rear screen and the black cut line that divides the roofline from the rear section of the body.

It is driveable and that means its Liquid Orange paintwork has made a splash on some of Europe’s most scenic roads when it has not been starring at motor shows.

So the Homage will be the dream machine for BMW in Melbourne, but the company will also have the latest in road-going reality as it displays its all-new 7 Series flagship and the quickest of its new X6 family.

The new 7 shows the latest BMW styling direction, as well as a range of advanced technology including a system which can recognise speed signs and tell the driver the current limit. The ultimate X6 — at least until there is one from the M (performance) division — is called the xDrive50i and is powered by the same twin-turbo V8 used in the latest 7 Series.

The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...