BMW 2002 Hommage Concept at Villa d’Este celebrates BMW’s original 2002

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The BMW 2002 Hommage Concept – a celebration of BMW’s 1960s 2002 – has debuted at Villa d’Este, and is based on the new BMW M2.

It’s hard to believe, but back in the 1960s BMW was something of a bit player in the global car market, with a range of saloon cars no one would describe as especially sporty.

But in 1966, BMW launched a two-door version of its saloon car and called it the 1602 (well, strictly speaking, it started out as the 1600-02) denoting a 1600cc engine (in the days when BMW’s model numbers told you the engine capacity) with a 2-door body. And it was a properly good compact sporty car.

In fact, so good was the 1602 that it can now be seen as the starting point for the BMW we now know, a reputation cemented by the bigger-engined 2002 which followed two years later.

The 2002 spawned Touring and Cabriolet versions, a fuel injected 2002 ti (later re-named the 2002 tii) and, in 1973, we got the BMW 2002 Turbo, arguably the first turbo-charged production car.

To celebrate the car that changed BMW in to makers of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’, the  Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is being treated this weekend to the BMW 2002 Hommage Concept, a car which celebrates the significance of the 2002 (although, perhaps, celebrating the 1602 would have been more accurate?), in much the same way as the 3.0 CSL Hommage, 328 Hommage and M1 Hommage.

Based on the underpinnings of the M2, the 2002 Hommage gets a long wheelbase, two doors, short overhangs and a shark nose, with bulging wheel arches and extra air intakes.

The original chrome strip down the sides of the 2002 has been re-created with a carbon fibre band, splitting the top and bottom of the Hommage, which BMW has exaggerated by painting the top half in matt paint and the bottom in gloss. Single headlights with a separate indicator above also evoke the original.

Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group Design boss, said:

Exactly 50 years ago, the 02 range kick-started an era of success for BMW. This compact coupe is one of the vehicles which made the brand what it is today.

The 2002 sat at the top of the range and was the first series-produced car anywhere in Europe to come with turbo technology. That set the seal on the coupe as a genuine sports car. At the same time, the 2002 turbo was at the technological vanguard of engine development at BMW.

The BMW 2002 Hommage is our way of raising a glass to all these achievement.

We’re assuming the 2002 Hommage gets the same powertrain as the M2 (365bhp from a twin-turbo 3.0 litre), but as it’s highly unlikely BMW will build the 2002 Hommage for production, it’s pretty academic.