If you’re familiar with the extremely exclusive & famous BMW M1 (453 units) then you’ll love this mysterious car that arrived before that car, in an even more exclusive fashion. This is the 1972 BMW E25 Turbo (also known as the Bracq Turbo), a futuristic design study created by BMW to showcase a series of pioneering safety solutions. Paul Bracq, head designer at BMW at the time, is responsible for the design of the E25 Turbo, which gave inspiration towards the production model BMW M1 a few years later. The goal of the E25 Turbo was to prove to the world that a safe car didn’t have to be ugly, in doing that, BMW incorporated a flashy paint finish, gullwing doors, and a timeless design low-slung overall design, all while implementing advanced & newly introduced (at the time) safety standards. The E25 turbo was built by Michelotti in Turin around a modified 2002 unitary steel floorpan, and actually served as BMW’s first turbocharged road car, ever (the 2002 Turbo launched one year later in 1973). The car was truly a safety demonstration with features such as foam-filled bumper shields, side impact beams, an integrated roll cage and much more. Possibly one of the most interesting safety features on the E25 Turbo was the radar-based brake distance warning system, which served as an extremely early version of today’s active cruise control, alerting the driver audibly when approaching another vehicle or object while driving. Only two of these concepts were ever produced, a static, non-functional show car, and a fully-functional example built subsequently. Interestingly, these two cars are nearly identical, with very very small differences being the only way to tell them apart. The first featured slider windows, and the second car (shown here) was built later on with standard glass windows, and used mainly to support the Turbo’s global tour.
How many made? 1 of 2, this being the later car with normal windows
Engine: 2.0 L turbocharged I4 borrowed from the BMW 2002 producing 276hp at 7100rpm.
Debut: 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
Top Speed: 165mph (claimed)
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: @deschan124
Research: @rarecarsonly