Italian coachbuilder gives BMW M2 a ‘Batmobile’ makeover
Words: Kyle Cassidy
The BMW M2 has never been short on muscle, although its boxy styling hasn’t won everyone over. Italian coachbuilder Riverti Automobili is working on an alternative, using the compact performance coupé as the basis for a tribute to BMW’s famous 3.0 CSL.
The project combines modern M2 running gear with bodywork inspired by the winged touring car hero of the 1970s. It’s still at the teaser stage, with pricing, production numbers and performance figures yet to be announced.
The original 3.0 CSL was developed from BMW’s E9 coupé for touring car competition. Its most extravagant aerodynamic package earned it the ‘Batmobile’ nickname, with the car becoming one of the defining machines of BMW’s motorsport history.
That gives Riverti plenty to work with. Its interpretation adopts a carbon-fibre widebody design, bringing the classic racer’s attitude to a much newer platform.
The choice of donor makes sense dimensionally. While today’s M2 is wider than the original E9, its length and wheelbase are relatively close, making it a useful starting point for recreating those proportions.
Underneath, the contemporary M2 provides a twin-turbocharged straight-six and rear-wheel drive, with a manual gearbox available in the donor range. Riverti hasn’t confirmed which transmission it will use or whether the engine will receive any additional attention.
Nor has it published a weight figure. Carbon-fibre panels could help trim some kilos, although it remains to be seen how closely the finished car will follow the lightweight philosophy behind the CSL badge.
This is a modern car receiving a retro-inspired body, so buyers should get the appeal of classic BMW design alongside contemporary mechanicals, rather than the ownership demands of a restored 1970s machine.
BMW has already revisited the idea itself, producing a modern 3.0 CSL in a limited run of 50 cars. Riverti’s project takes a similar historical reference and applies it to the smaller M2.
Whether the result will be any more attainable remains an open question. Bespoke carbon-fibre coachwork is unlikely to come cheaply, but there is no announced price to put that into perspective.
