M1 homage

The BMW concept car. Photo / Supplied

BMW'S homage to its M1 has at last come Downunder - albeit only as far as Melbourne's recent motor show.

The original M1, penned by Giorgio Giugiaro, was designed for the racetrack. It inspired Paul Bracq's later BMW turbo, a concept car showcasing technical innovations.

The M1 Homage concept was intended to honour those two predecessors and show off BMW's in-house design team. Yet it incorporates a number of traditional BMW design cues, such as the long bonnet, the stretched window-line and that "Hofmeister kick" at the rear.

Liquid orange paint designed specifically for this car uses an iridescent finish to emphasise the colour and the shapes.

Bad news, BMW says the M1 Homage will never be built- but it will get a place in history. When it's finished its world tour, it will return to Germany where a place has been reserved in the company's refurbished museum.