bmw m1

BMW’s supercar icon, the M1, blew out the candles at the Concorso d’Eleganza at
Villa d’Este this weekend. In honor of the car’s thirtieth birthday, BMW rolled
out the new BMW M1 Hommage, a concept/design study that pays tribute to the
original M1 and shows what could be possible if BMW were to produce a new mid-engined
sports car. Follow the jump for the breakdown.The BMW M1 Hommage blends a wide,
aggressive stance with intentionally retro/modern twists on the key visual
elements that defined Paul Bracq’s original BMW Turbo concept and the Giugiaro-designed
M1 homologation special that followed. It is instantly recognizable as an M1,
particularly in profile, where the M1 Hommage’s basic shape clearly mimics that
of its forebear. BMW’s stylists also incorporated similar nods the particulars
of the original, such as the louvered rear window; the badge placement in back;
the line extending aft from the side glass; and even the wheel design, which is
an exaggerated take on the ones you’ll find on the original road car. Poring
over the details of the Homage is akin to going on an Easter Egg hunt.

The greatest departure is seen in front, where BMW has given the M1 Hommage a
sinister, imposing face. Naturally, BMW’s prominent double-kidney grille is
front and center. Its joined by outboard intakes and a trapezoidal lower opening
designed to swallow and direct air for both cooling purposes and aerodynamic
effect. The car’s four round headlights lurk behind thin slits in the front
fascia, remaining essentially invisible until they’re illuminated — a tip of
the cap to the hideaway nature of the classic M1’s flip-up lamps.

toyota celica

toyota celica

The rumor mill is up and running again this week, churning out reports of a new Toyota Celica. While the Toyota line-up once included a variety of sports-coupes, since the cancellation of the Supra, MR2 and Celica, it’s had nothing but sedans, hatchbacks, vans and trucks to offer. Rumor has it that a new Celica is on the way, to be built by Subaru, in whose parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Toyota acquired significant stake back in 2005.

If reports out of Japan’s BestCar are to be believed, the new Celica will come in two versions: the base GT, with a naturally-aspirated 2-liter Subaru boxer four driving the rear wheels, and a hopped-up GT-Four version with the 300-hp turbo engine from the JDM Impreza STi and all-wheel-drive. The GT-Four could also be a sort of performance hybrid, gaining small electric motors in each of the four wheels. Both the GT and GT-Four are tipped to be available in either two-door or three-door bodystyles, since the Impreza is offered only as a sedan and five-door for this current generation. The new Celica, the styling of which could draw on the FT-HS concept car from last year’s Detroit show (pictured above), is reportedly being readied for a launch in Japan next year.