Back in the '30s BMW->ke178 unveiled the 328 - the most successful and best-looking sports car at that time. The car's success was due to its impressive design parameters: systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, optimum engine types, and outstanding suspension technology. Now, as a celebration of the car's 75th anniversary, BMW will unveiled the 328 Hommage at this year's Mille Miglia. This model modernizes the principles and the character of the vehicle from back then and offers a possible interpretation of how the designers of that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, might have built the BMW 328 if they had the use of our current technology.

"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."

UPDATE 05/23/2011: BMW revealed the first details on the 328 Hommage earlier this weekend and now it's time to see the concept in action at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. At that same event, the concept won the title of "best of show" in the "Concept Cars and Prototypes" category. Hit the jump for the video.

UPDATE 05/31/2011: BMW has revealed a rather cool video of the 328 Hommage that captures the brand new concept car in action. The movie was filmed around BMW Design.

UPDATE 06/06/2011: BMW has unveiled a new cool video in which it compared the new 328 Hommage concept to the model that inspired it: the classic 328. A must see for anyone out there!

Hit the jump to read more about the BMW 328 Hommage.

2011 BMW 328 Hommage

Specifications
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  • Model: 2011 BMW 328 Hommage
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

The BMW 328 Hommage weighs only 1720 lbs and that's because major parts of the exterior and interior are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The exterior design language uses the same treatment that was applied for the Vision ConnectedDrive Concept.

The 328 Hommage gets an extremely wide and flat front end with generous surfaces and a powerful appearance. A carbon fiber bonnet and low-reaching sidewalls will ensure an excellent stability for the 328 on the road. As a result, the vehicle appears to be even flatter and more dynamic as a whole.

And, of course, in order to distinguish it as a BMW model, the 328 Hommage will feature a vertically mounted kidney grille dynamically incorporated into the flat silhouette. 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. At the rear, the 328 Hommage is defined by large vents and openings and circular tailpipes. The concept sits on two-part light alloy wheels.

Interior

The interior of the 328 Hommage gets fine leather, matte and high-gloss black polished aluminum, and numerous details derived from motor racing, offering a hint of the BMW 328’s most successful motor sports career.

A slightly asymmetrically designed windscreen marks the area in which the driver and co-driver sit. High-gloss aluminum safety buckles are combined with leather and different carbon fiber elements. The interior of the 328 Hommage is defined by two large surface areas – so-called layers. One of them extends towards the driver, revealing the entire driver's workplace comprising steering wheel, control elements and scoop, thereby separating the driver and co-driver areas from each other. The second layer begins next to the scoop, making a sweep towards the co-driver, then floating freely in front of him.

Engine

BMW hasn't revealed any details on the concept's technical specifications. All they have said so far is that the 328 Hommage will use a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. More details will be revealed soon, but since the concept is just a design exercise, it really has no chance of seeing production.

When Can I Buy One?

Well, never. The BMW 328 Hommage was created in order to pay tribute to an impressive classic car and has no chance of being put into production.