BMW 328 Hommage Villa d'Este debut

BMW 328 Hommage - pays tribute to the 1936 328

BMW are paying tribute to the 1936 BMW 328 with a tribute in the forma of a concept car – the BMW 328 Hommage – which debuts at Villa d’Este this weekend.

The BMW 328 of 1936 is an legendary car in the annuls of BMW history.

It set the highest average speed at the Mille Miglia circuit in 1940 at 103mph, and still holds the record today.

It was one of the first BMWs to showcase the now familiar kidney grills, and it was made to be light and nimble with the use of aluminium and magnesium.

And as this year is the 75th anniversary of the 328, BMW has decided to pay homage (or Hommage, if you’re German) with the BMW 328 Hommage, to be revealed today at Villa d’Este.

The 328 Hommage does what it says on the tin by paying tribute to its iconic predecessor. It’s built with extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP – the 21st century version of aluminium and magnesium) and the kidney grill makes a bold statement.

It does a bit more than bring to mind BMW’s Vision ConnectedDrive Roadster concept from Geneva in March, but still makes a statement all its own.

Apart from the design cues echoing the original 328, there are plenty of early track cues too with asymmetric screen and leather straps holding the bonnet in place. And the 328 Hommage has no doors; you just jump in.

Sadly, the 328 Hommage isn’t heading for production, even if a variation on the Vision ConnectedDrive Roadster probably will. Instead it is exactly what it purports to be – a fitting modern tribute to an historic BMW.

And Villa d’Este is the perfect backdrop.