Auto: BMW honours the '02 in 2016

BMW has big festivities planned for Monterey Car Week this year. Not only is it the brand's centenary, but also the 50th anniversary of the legendary 2002. So to mark the occasion, the Bavarian automaker will roll out a new version of its 2002 Hommage concept.

As you may recall, BMW first revealed the 2002 Hommage at theConcorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este this past May, reinterpreting one of the company's most celebrated models in modern form. The “re-imagined version” will be presented at the event known as “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering” on Friday, August 19. Expect a fresh coat of paint and some other minor alterations.

The 2002 showpiece is the latest in a string of retro concepts that BMW has created over the past several years. Others have included conceptual tributes to the 328 and M1. Last year's 3.0 CSL Hommage concept was similarly unveiled at Villa d'Este (in dayglow yellow) and subsequently reintroduced at Pebble Beach as the 3.0 CSL Hommage R concept with a retro racing livery. We wouldn't be surprised to see Munich take the same approach this time around.

BMW will also be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca this year, where it will bring out no less than 64 classic racing cars from the 328 of 1930s vintage to the V12 LMR from 1999.