BMW Concept 1-series tii and M3 saloon (2007): first official pictures

By Steve Moody

First Official Pictures

24 October 2007 02:47

Two World Debuts at Tokyo: Are BMW turning Japanese?

With the vast proliferation of BMW models, there just aren’t enough motor shows to go round, so Tokyo was treated to the unusual sight of two world debuts from the Germans: the outwardly sensible (but mental behind its closed four doors) M3 and the mental-in-every-way Concept 1 Series tii. The Concept 1 Series tii, BMW executives were extremely keen to point out, is a design study intended to highlight the new coupe’s links to great road and racing BMWs of the past, such as the 2002 tii of the 60s and 70s and the brilliant 3.0 CSL of the 70s. So designers have taken lots of cues from those cars, Max Powering their own standard car before it has even gone on sale. Now that’s keen. However, as with all design studies, if there were certain elements of the car that show visitors really loved, they may well find them sneaking onto options lists...

Best start with the exterior. Most obvious are the carbon components such as the bonnet, the mirror caps, and the inlays for the front air intakes at the side. These changes make the car a ‘lot’ lighter than a standard 135i apparently, but there aren’t any figures for weight, or performance enhancement. Shame. The there are the air guidance strips extending along the outer edges of the bonnet to give the car more stability at speed, just like the mid-1970s 3.0 CSL batmobile. A chest wig for cars, but ace nonetheless. The concept also gets a specially designed front air dam, sidesills and rear air dam for improved aerodynamics, while special gurney flaps on the boot generate additional downforce on the rear axle. The inlay in the rear bumper is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, with a diffuser split by two bars to ensure a controlled flow of air also along the lower part of the car, reducing air swirl at the rear to a minimum, so BMW says. And in case you’ve not noticed, some racy stripes, too.

By Steve Moody