As a tribute to the 3.0 CSL, an iconic coupe from the 1970s, the German car
maker unveiled the new BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept at the Concorso d'Eleganza
Villa d'Este.
"Our Hommage cars not only demonstrate how proud we are of our heritage, but
also how important the past can be in determining our future," says Adrian van
Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.
"CSL" stands for "Coupé Sport Leichtbau" (coupé, sport, lightweight).
3.0 CSL Hommage's Exterior Design
The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage features an elongated body, which is set off by
distinctive air deflectors, powerful wheel arches and prominent spoilers to the
roof and tail. Small rear-view cameras serve to further reduce aerodynamic drag.
The large rear spoiler increases downforce on the driven rear axle and in so
doing improves power transmission.
The sheer self-confidence and sporting prowess of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage
are perfectly summed up in the original color of its spiritual predecessor -
Golf Yellow.
Purist Elegance Inside
Pared down to a minimum, the interior of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage puts its
lightweight design on show. All interior elements are there out of absolute
necessity, every part has a design, structural or drive-related function. In the
all-CFRP interior, the only wood-like presence is the "instrument panel" - a
cross-member and purely structural element. This is a clear reference to the
interior of the earlier BMW 3.0 CSL, which featured an all-round wood trim
throughout the interior.
Other racing features include bucket seats with high-quality stitching, a
six-point belt and red anodized safety features such as the outlet nozzles for
the extinguishing foam, the fire extinguisher itself, and the two switches on
the center console for the emergency shut-off and fire extinguishing mechanism.
The door openers combine a DTM-style pull strap with the handle-integrated
opener of the earlier BMW 3.0 CSL, resulting in the hybrid solution of a nylon
pull strap located directly behind the grab handle in the door.
