Forty years ago, BMW, eager to establish a larger presence in the United States, took the Batmobile IMSA racing. The E9 3.0 CSL, festooned with a honkin’ wing and fender flares large enough to qualify as affordable housing in some parts of San Mateo County, acquitted itself quite admirably in competition, and has gone on to become of the best-loved racing cars of the 20th century. So when BMW’s 3.0 CSL Hommage appeared at Villa D’Este earlier this year, we were a little surprised that it was swathed in a loud neon color scheme, rather than a traditional BMW racing livery. Turns out they were saving that for Pebble Beach.
Rolled out as a special surprise alongside the launch of the M4 GTS concept, the 3.0 CSL Hommage R features a riff on the colors worn by Brian Redman’s Sebring-winning ’75 CSL. BMW dispensed with the prominent kidneys’ vertical chrome inserts in the interest of raciness, and the result is a little less prowlike and a little more motorsport maw.
Inside, the CSL Hommage R features a dash-wide screen that can display an image of the track being raced. But that’s not the party trick. The CSL Hommage R’s interior actually starts with the racing suit, designed in conjunction with Puma. The driver’s helmet features a visor that works as a head-up display, showing speed, gear, and RPM. We hope that it uses better/more advanced tech than Mini’s wonky Augmented Vision goggles. There also are Tron-like LEDs that signify the flow of information from the car’s helm to the driver’s head. Because it’s a racing car, there is no such thing as climate control. A couple of fresh-air vents are all you get.
Is it wholly successful? The original Batmobile seems positively dainty in comparison to this latter-day leviathan. But the rear view is sweet, the gold wheels are ace, and we’d happily put on that Bobby Rahal mask we’ve had in the closet since his 1986 Indy win and whip the thing around Laguna Seca. Wouldn’t you?
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