BMW unveils hottest 1
Based on the just-released 1 Series Coupe, BMW's 'tii' concept harks back to the halcyon days of the sporting 2002BMW has introduced its latest concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new study -- the fifth from Munich this year -- launches the 1 Series Coupe (more here) with a bang and revives the 'tii' badge, last seen as a variant of the 2002 range from the seventies.
By applying the revered badge to the concept, BMW hopes to draw parallels between old and new models, the company claiming that the concept is a modern interpretation of the original.
Visual cues such as the paint scheme (principally white with blue highlights and black carbonfibre) recall earlier BMW motorsport models and coordinate with cooling fins on the bonnet. In addition carbon-fibre parts have been specified by the company's engineers for the sake of weight reduction and include the bonnet, mirror bodies and even the inlays for the air intakes at the front.
Elements of the revised bodykit, including a 'Gurney flap' for additional downforce over the rear, are constructed from carbon-fibre also. Side skirts and airdams at front and rear have all been revised for improved aerodynamics.
Holding the driver in place during 'slick-shod' cornering, the deeply contoured sports bucket seats feature integrated headrests and are trimmed in a combination of alcantara and leather with blue stitching. For the driver, the seatbelt is also blue, matching the colour-scheme for the car's exterior, but the seatbelts in the other three positions are silver.
BMW has given the tachometer the prominence it arguably deserves in a concept such as this, with a white-faced dial and red graphics. This contrasts with the dark-faced dial for the speedometer.
A three-spoke steering wheel is finished in white for the spokes and alcantara for the rim. Alcantara is also the trim material of choice for the gear knob, instrument panel, door linings and driver's armrest.
There are no plans to put the car into production, according to BMW's Toni Andreevski. The original 2002 tii was a high performance fuel-injected model in the 2002 range and is not to be confused with the 2002 Turbo. That suggests the concept is not based on the twin-turbo 135i production car for the Australian market.
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