BMW M1

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.

There appears to be no interior, and BMW doesn't even bother mentioning specific powertrain possibilities. The M1 Hommage is strictly a design exercise meant to celebrate an icon, but it also reminds us that Munich can do the supercar thing, too. Maybe one day it will again.

Mercedes Maybach Rolls Royce Phantom Lamborghini Murcielago BMW M6 Ferrari F430 Comparison

By CJ Carter

For instance, Rolls Royce Phantoms start at $340,000 and can approach up to $500,000. Rolls Royce sold 1000 cars in 2007. Rolls Royce cheapest car cost $340,000 but they still managed to sell 1000 of them. The SLR and the Maybach are the only cars Benz makes even remotely in Rolls price range.

Yet even with combined sales they don't even put up a dismal 300 units. Bugatti sells the $1.3 million Veyron Super car has sold 220 units. That is almost as many sales as Maybach and SLR put together. The sad part about that is that the Veyron cost 3 times more then either of those cars. You could buy the most expensive Maybach and the most expensive McLaren SLR and still have money left to buy a Murcielago LP640 for the price of a Veyron, yet Buggati still managed to sell nearly as many units as Mercedes' most prestigious vehicles with a car that cost 3 times as much.

Let's not even throw Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bentley into the hat. Ferrari's start at $280,000 with the F430, Lamborghini starts at $260,000 with the Gallardo, and Bentley starts at $190,000 with the Continental GT. All of those car makers have $1 millon cars with the exception of Bentley who makes a half million dollar car. Ferrari sold over 6000 cars is 2007. Lamborghini sold 2400 cars in 2007 and Bentley sold over 10,000 cars in 2007. The 290 cars the Mercedes Benz sold in their uber-luxury category are not even statistically significant in comparison to their competitors. In order for Mercedes to be statistically significant they would have to at least sell 5% of what their competitors do in a similar category. Because Mercedes Benz cannot do that, the cars that they do make which are comparable, are not even worthy of discussion because the buying populous doesn't pay them any mind and they aren't statistically significant.

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