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(from BMW Press
Release) BMW 328 Hommage.
The BMW 328 is
considered the most successful and best-looking sports car of the
1930s. The BMW 328’s success was the result of its design parameters
– through the use of systematic lightweight construction,
aerodynamic lines, opti-mum engine types and outstanding suspension
technology, it laid the foundation stone for a new vehicle concept,
by which performance only leads to success if combined with perfect
harmonisation of all parameters and maximum efficiency. With these
characteristics, the BMW 328 was even then the embodiment of what
the BMW brand still stands for today – dynamics, aesthetics and a
high level of innovation.
This year, the dream
sports car is celebrating its 75th birthday. The festivities will
begin near Lake Como at the Mille Miglia. There, the main focus will
be on the fascination of the BMW 328 racing car. To this day, the
award-winning vehicle BMW 328 Touring Coupé still holds the record
for the highest average speed on the Mille Miglia circuit and, in
2010, was again able to win the historic revival of the race. A week
later at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the two-seater’s
functional aesthetics will be the focus of attention. In this area
of conflict be-tween tradition and modernity, the BMW Group is
paying tribute to the BMW 328 on the occasion of its anniversary
with a special model – the BMW 328 Hommage. “With the BMW 328
Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of
the fathers of the BMW 328”, explains Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group
Classic. “They created an icon, which is consid-ered a milestone in
the history of the automobile.” The BMW 328 Hommage translates the
principles and the character of the vehicle of that time into
present times and offers a possible interpretation of how the
designers of that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, might
have built the BMW 328 in the present day using current technology.
The BMW 328 – lightweight
construction as a principle.
The BMW 328 was also a
special BMW insofar as the lightweight construction principle was
systematically implemented on a BMW automobile for the very first
time. Wherever possible, the lightest and at the same time most
robust materials were used, thereby keeping the gross vehicle weight
down to just 780 kilograms. In order to translate the idea of
lightweight construction into this day and age, major parts of the
exterior and interior of the BMW 328 Hommage are made of carbon
fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Whilst in the old days they
favoured the materials aluminium and magnesium, CFRP is now
considered to offer the best ratio between weight and stability. The
high-strength fibre fabric is lighter than aluminium, but also more
stable. Wherever the material has been used on the BMW 328 Hommage,
it is also visible. In this way, the BMW 328 Hommage not only
reflects the lightweight construction principle functionally, but
also visually. The BMW Group leads the way in the production and use
of CFRP in automotive construction and already possesses many years
of experience in the series production of CFRP roofs and structural
components for the BMW M6 as well as CFRP roofs for the BMW M3.
Not only do the exterior
and interior CFRP elements of the BMW 328 make an exceptional
statement. The up-to-date implementation of the original vehicle
character is also expressed in the choice of other materials used on
the inside and outside of the vehicle. Fine leather, matt and
high-gloss black polished alu-minium as well as the CFRP interior
visualise in the BMW 328 Hommage the pure and functional roadster
character of the sports car of that day. Inside the vehicle there
are also numerous details derived from motor racing, offering a hint
of the BMW 328’s most successful motor sports career. For instance,
the pre-miere of the vehicle in 1936 did not take place at a motor
show, but on the race-track. In its first race, the BMW 328
declassified the entire higher-powered com-petition and dominated
the racetracks of Europe during the years that followed.
Dynamics and lightness in the
interior.
The expressive exterior
design of the BMW 328 Hommage depicts the modern interpretation of a
highly emotional and dynamic two-seater Roadster – just like the BMW
328 75 years ago. “Hommage cars have a long tradition in the BMW
Group. Based on our design philosophy “Rooted in history, moving
for-ward in design”, they demonstrate the significance of history
for the present. Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness
and agility through light-weight construction. The BMW 328 Hommage
Car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight
construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.”
(Adrian van Hooydonk) In keeping with its role model, the BMW 328
Hommage has a streamlined design and is clearly recognisable as a
sports car. Precise lines run across all of the car body’s taut
surfaces. As a result, a subtle contrast between the tense surfaces
and the sharp edges is created within the flat, dynamic silhouette.
The strong wedge shape accelerates the ve-hicle even when it is at a
standstill, the scoops behind the seats take up the lines coming
from the bonnet, guiding them dynamically into the rear end. The
struc-ture of the CFRP mats gives the vehicle an appearance of
depth, the diagonal lines of the woven CFRP additionally
underscoring the dynamic design vocabu-lary of the roadster. Thanks
to concise weaving, the carbon structure is clearly visible,
optically emphasising the lightweight construction principle. Like
the first BMW 328 test vehicles, with which the model celebrated its
triumphant debut on the racetrack in 1938, then going on to gain a
number of further successes, the BMW 328 Hommage has no doors. Then
as now, deep recesses allow ac-cess to the inside of the car. The
extremely wide and flat front end is strongly three-dimensional,
generous surfaces and concise lines give the front end a powerful
appearance. Viewed from the front, the CFRP bonnet appears to
en-compass the vehicle from above. It embraces the vehicle, framing
the slightly set back front end in a very distinctive downward
sweep. Due to the almost vertical, low-reaching sidewalls, it
simultaneously emphasises the BMW 328 Hommage’s excellent stability
on the road. As a result, the vehicle appears to be even flatter and
more dynamic as a whole. Under the bonnet, further surfaces rise to
embed the top and bottom of the distinctive kidney grille, whilst
folding themselves around it to shape the adjacent air intakes.
Openings and large air intakes create visual lightness at the front,
simultaneously demonstrating the high air require-ment of the
powerful three-litre, six-cylinder engine. Three-dimensionally
de-signed lattices inside the front vents form a connection between
the headlamps and the kidney grille, with the three-dimensional
lattice structure acting as an accentuating feature.
Characteristic kidney shape.
The vertically
positioned double kidney grille imitates the slim, vertical kidney
design of the early BMW models. In those days, the BMW 328 was one
of the first BMWs to feature it, after which it became further
established with later BMW models. On the BMW 328 Hommage, the
vertically mounted kidney grille is dynamically incorporated into
the flat silhouette. It slants back roughly in the middle, thus
blending in with the bonnet and the dynamic silhouette when viewed
from the side. On the other hand, from the front it appears to be
standing upright. The kidney grille bars are more prominently curved
than the kidney grille surround itself. The vehicle displays the
extremely round and appealing design of the original BMW 328 kidney
grille when viewed from the side. The kidney grille surround is also
distinctively three-dimensional, appearing to continue in-side the
vehicle. Its front surface is finished in polished high-gloss,
whilst the side surfaces have a matt finish. This detail gives the
kidney grille a very high-class and up-to-date appearance. Behind
the kidney grille bars, black horizontal fins obstruct the view into
the engine compartment – just like on the 328 of 75 years ago.
Athletic rear end.
The rear end takes on
the design vocabulary featured on the front of the vehicle. Similar
to the front end, sections of the sidewall form the framework for
the de-sign elements that appear to protrude from the rear end.
Between them, located far to the outside, are two clearly and
concisely designed taillights sporting the characteristic BMW L
shape. Two filigree luminous elements reflect a strongly curved
interpretation of the typical BMW L shape, whilst a concisely
constructed bar fitted to the outside of the lamp is directed
vertically downward, separating the lamps towards the outside. The
modern functional design of the taillights underlines the technical
appeal of the vehicle.
The powerful sculpturing
of the rear end also visually conveys the BMW 328 Hommage’s
lightness. Large vents and openings characterise the rear end,
giv-ing it a light appearance. The distinctively horizontal section
below the taillights forms a counterpoint to the intense
sculpturing, emphasising the width of the vehicle. Below that, the
rear of the car is strongly arched, a concise line partitions the
surface, thereby providing an air of lightness. This large
sculptural element adopts the form language of the front-end design
surrounding the kidney grille. The wing-shaped element tapers both
upward and downward, thus revealing two large latticed air outlets.
The circular tailpipes are located inside these two openings. They
protrude prominently out of the lattice and, combined with the
distinctively designed wing shape of the lower air intake edges,
underscore the power of the straight six-cylinder engine.
Details derived from
motor racing. The interior design of the BMW 328 Hommage comprises a
number of details that are reminiscent of the successful motor
racing history of the BMW 328. For example, the slightly
asymmetrically designed windscreen has a recess in the middle,
similar to the windscreen design of earlier racing cars.
Simultaneously, it marks the areas in which the driver and co-driver
sit. Moreover, four wide leather straps run across the bonnet, which
appear to dive under the side shoulder sur-faces to be continued on
the side. This detail, which used to be considered an extremely
sporty attribute, is also featured on the BMW 328 Hommage. Com-bined
with the high-gloss aluminium safety buckles, the leather straps
provide a touch of class in contrast to the very technical-looking
carbon fibre. The modern quick-release fasteners for securing the
bonnet bring racing of the past into the present. On the driver’s
scoop a large silver “75” as well as a small logo below it signify
the reason for the BMW 328 Hommage. Next to it, the integrated tank
filler neck protruding from the right-hand side is a striking
detail. Whilst it pro-trudes prominently from the body of the BMW
328, the BMW 328 Hommage features a version that is integrated
slightly more into the bodywork.
The large, prominently
designed individual round headlights of the BMW 328 Hommage are
reminiscent of the headlamps featured on the BMW 328, which were
integrated into the wings for the first time. The three-dimensional
interpretation of these round headlights is divided into four
trans-parent, cylindrical elements, these being back-lit by LEDs.
Between them, set-back black concave surfaces symbolise the typical
tape cross used on headlights in motor racing. Around the four
reflectors an illuminated ring emphasises the circular design of
each individual headlamp.
The two-part light alloy
wheels featured on the BMW 328 Hommage are a very special
interpretation of the characteristic hole pattern of the original
rims. The extremely concave high-gloss black aluminium rim boasts a
contrasting silver-grey cover made of glass fibre. The insides of
the angular milled holes have a high-gloss finish and are
distinctively accentuated by a matt overlay. A black chrome
butterfly nut bearing the BMW emblem completes the contemporary
version of the wheel.
Clear and functional – the
interior.
The interior of the BMW
328 Hommage visualises the functional passion the BMW 328 exuded
already back then. Thus the design of the interior is also pure and
functional today. The entire interior structure is made of CFRP,
conveying the lightweight construction concept of the BMW 328 into
the inside of the car both visually and functionally. Due to the
special application of materials, open-ings and freely suspended
elements, the surfaces and different levels create an all-embracing
feeling of lightness.
Through the use of CFRP inside the BMW 328, the “layering” design
principle, with which shapes take on clear functions, adopts a
completely new form of ex-pression. Due to its exceptional
characteristics, CFRP is in itself robust and can be shaped into
self-supporting structures. Hence, only two large surface areas –
so-called layers – define the interior of the BMW 328 Hommage. Both
of them start at the bonnet and protrude into the interior. One of
the layers extends to-wards the driver, reveals the entire driver’s
workplace comprising steering wheel, control elements and scoop,
thereby separating the driver and co-driver areas from each other.
This spatial separation is indicated by a further material: the
elegant, brown leather interior extends from the entrance across the
driver’s area, over the seats to the scoop, thus becoming an
integral part of the design vocabulary of the first layer. At the
same time, the surrounding graphics compris-ing material and
geometry create a link with the co-driver. On the driver’s scoop, a
silver-coloured logo bearing the number 75 also gives indication
inside the car of the festive occasion in honour of the BMW 328
Hommage.
The second layer begins
next to the scoop, making a sweep towards the co-driver, then to
float freely in front of him. This gesture creates a sporty but
light sense of spaciousness, opening out a functional area in front
of the co-driver. Between the driver and co-driver a multitude of
recesses in the instrument panel and centre console create an airy
and harmonious spatial experience, bringing the driver and the
co-driver slightly closer to each other again in a sweeping ges-ture.
The lines of the woven carbon fibres complement the interior design
vo-cabulary perfectly.
Viewed from above, a
slightly asymmetrical design of the bonnet and windscreen
underscores the driver-orientated construction of the BMW 328
Hommage. The windscreen is larger within the driver’s area, so the
lines of the powerdome are of different length. Behind the
windscreen they continue in the inside of the car, so that at this
point both the interior and the exterior appear to be intertwined.
Authentic materials.
Apart from CFRP, leather
and aluminium, the interior deliberately features very few other
materials. But every material that has been used is also visible.
This provides the BMW 328 with a special authenticity. The contrast
between the cool and technical-looking carbon fibre and the
high-quality, warm brown of the leather characterises the interior.
The exceptionally soft saddle tan leather has a fine grain and a
slightly antique finish. On the seats the high-quality seam pattern
enhances the appearance of the leather-covered seats even further.
The seams in the centre of the sitting area of the seats and the
silver-grey double-felled outer seams are a modern interpretation of
the sports seats featured in earlier models, giving the seats
additional character and depth. Aluminium is only sel-dom featured
and, depending on where it is used, has a high-gloss or a matt satin
finish.
Instruments and tripmaster. The instruments featured in the BMW 328
Hommage are both sporty and func-tional to an equal extent. The
sparse instrument panel is dominated by the only round instrument -
the prominently designed rev counter. Like the cockpit of the BMW
328 and typical of a sports car, the instrument cluster indicates in
addition to engine speed only the oil temperature, oil pressure and
water temperature. To the right of the rev counter, control lamps
and a gearshift point indicator com-plete the instrument cluster.
The instrument surrounds are finished in black chrome and made to
the highest standards.
The puristic instrument
cluster is complemented by the so-called tripmaster. The instrument
panel of the BMW 328 Hommage is a fitted with two iPhones located in
special holders and which assume additional display functions for
the driver and co-driver. They are integrated into the
self-supporting structure of the co-driver layer and, like the
instrument cluster, are accommodated in a high-grade aluminium
housing. The shape of the housing itself imitates the design of
classic stopwatches, the two functions of the tripmaster being
accessible through two further openings. Firstly, the iPhones
function as stopwatches for measuring lap times and secondly as GPS
roadbooks. Using two iPhones the driver and front-seat
passenger/co-driver respectively can use both functions at the same
time. After a journey, the iPhones can also be taken away in their
hold-ers.
Apart from the
instruments and the tripmaster, the BMW 328 Hommage is also fitted
with further features taken from motor racing. In addition to being
equipped with just the bare essentials in order to save weight, the
BMW 328 Hommage is also fitted with modern 4-point seat belts,
ergonomic seats and the “bone”, a kind of emergency switch-off for
the vehicle electronics, which is located between the two seats. The
brushed aluminium belt retainers located next to the headrests
ensure optimal guidance of the belts. These high-class, functional
details are concealed behind the headrests, blending in
harmo-niously with the overall concept..
