One of the greatest cars in the vast BMW stable is the 1972 Turbo prototype or concept car, created for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

In 1972, the eyes of the world were squarely on the Olympic games and Munich. BMW had built a new corporate headquarters, remarkably styled on the shape of the cylinders of a 4-cylinder engine. A satellite building housed BMW museum pieces.

For the occasion, renowned designer Paul Bracq created an innovative design for a BMW automobile, the BMW Turbo. Only 2 Turbos were ever built. Today, it is one of the rarest of BMW's, with its elegant design, gull wing doors and futuristic cockpit.

The interior was well detailed, and boasted a bevy of instrumentation that was likely inspired by the intense cockpits of fighter jets. Included were passive safety, design and driver assistant systems, while on the outside it had large window areas, a distinguished, sloping front and balanced proportions throughout.

The Turbo was powered by the 4-cylinder 1990cc turbocharged engine with 280 hp at 5200 rpm and a top speed of 165mph. The Turbo was BMW's first mid-engine car.

Bracq's Turbo was awarded Concept Car of the Year honors in 1973.