Skip to main content

BMW’s 3.0 CSL Hommage blends old and new, but the cocktail leaves a bitter taste

Last week, BMW surprised us with a teaser of a new Hommage concept, the 3.0 CSL, ahead of its reveal at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The small glimpse we had of the design concept was highly promising, and now the German automaker has fully revealed the Hommage.

“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.

While the concept attempts to honor the iconic BMW coupe from the 1970s, it’s difficult to call the integration of future styling and classic characteristics a success. From certain angles, you can absolutely see cues from the brand’s heritage, while the front seems to be pulled straight from the i8. In theory, a melding of the two would look stunning, but the results just feel wrong.

If you can look past the buck-toothed front fascia, the rear two-thirds of the concept are sleek, if not a tad overdone, and everyone loves side-exit exhaust. Inside is all-concept, with an F1-esque steering wheel and slender stitched-leather sport seats.

Other elements of its design include headlights inspired by the 2016 BMW 7 Series, flared front and rear wheel arches, and both a roof-mounted and trunk-mounted spoiler to mimic the classic 3.0 CSL’s exterior. Its body is made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic and weighs 200kg/440 pounds less than the original 3.0 CSL.

One rather puzzling design question relates to the hood: while the fenders overlapping the bonnet add some pizazz, it would seem impossible to open the hood. That may explain why BMW didn’t release any information about what powers the 3.0 CSL Hommage.

While aesthetics are always subjective, something tells me this particular Hommage won’t enter the halls of “future classics” anytime soon.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
LG upgrades remote, adds new features with webOS 3.0 smart TV platform
lg will debut webos 3 0 ces 2016 new remote smart tv web os

LG has already shared a lot of what it will be showing at CES in January, from home audio solutions to laptops and monitors, but it isn't done yet. Along with a wide array of sparlking new TVs at the show, LG will debut the latest version of its webOS smart TV platform. webOS 3.0.

"The new webOS 3.0 is a major update since this advanced TV platform technology was first introduced in 2014," CEO and president of LG Home Entertainment Brian Kwon said in a statement. "The webOS story of Simple Connection, Simple Switching and Simple Discovery has really connected with customers and illustrates very clearly our commitment to securing a leadership role in the smart TV market with innovation and creativity."

Read more
BMW’s i3 will receive a 25 percent improvement in EV range thanks to new batteries
BMW i3 front

BMW’s i3 has moved along relatively unchanged since its introduction in 2013 -- with the exception of a special edition or two -- but that’s about to change courtesy of a new lithium ion battery that will improve the range of its all-electric and range-extender versions.

The i3’s “optimized drivelines” includes a lithium ion battery with the same 22kWh power capacity as the present city car but with a higher power density that translates to "well over" 124 miles of real-word range. The quoted range is specifically for the all-electric i3 so expect the range-extender to offer a bit less drive time due to added weight of a two-cylinder gas engine.

Read more
BMW’s 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept scrubs the ugly off and sports a new paint job
BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept

When BMW introduced its 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, it was met with a mixed reaction. From some angles, the design was aggressive and sleek, and from others, it looked like BMW has taken inspiration from a rodent.

The German automaker seems ready to redeem itself though, as it has introduced the 3.0 CSL Hommage R at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. In many ways, it’s the same bodywork as the vehicle that debuted in May, but the new BMW Racing paint scheme, lower, wider stance, and gold wheels drastically improve the once questionable looks.

Read more