Today the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 kicked off and bmw was in charge of the inauguration, with an exceptional model, the Concept Touring Coupe.
This model, based on the Z4reimagines its silhouette in the shooting brake format and it is impossible not to think of an M Coupé, the famous “clown shoe” based on the Z3 which is now a cult sports car and worth a fortune.
BMW Z3 M Coupé affectionately nicknamed Clown Shoe in the 1990s
Of course, the profile of this car, more than sportsmanship, is luxury and elegance.
Cult of Shooting Brake
“The BMW Concept Touring Coupé celebrates original driving pleasure”says Domagoj Dukec, Director of Design at BMW. “A highly emotional vehicle like this shows that a passion for all things driving pleasure has been essential through the ages and will be in the future.”
The handcrafted, one-of-a-kind BMW Concept Touring Coupé unites a traditional, historic concept with the technology of a purist, modern sports car. It is striking that BMW did not want to mention the M Coupé that we all know, but rather two other models, such as the BMW 328 Touring Coupé that won the Mille Miglia endurance race in 1940 and the “Touring” variants of the BMW 02 Series from early 1970s. The style of the lettering on the rear and in the interior of this unusual vehicle is inspired by the model lettering of this historic predecessor.
BMW Concept Touring Coupé: exterior design
The design highlight of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé is the sculpted rear end. The shape of the roof, which blends seamlessly with the rear side panels, accentuates the car’s athletic shoulders, while the flat rear glass and clearly defined body surfaces accentuate the vehicle’s solidity.
Viewed from the side, the typical BMW interpretation of shooting brake proportions is clearly recognizable. The long hood, aerodynamic roof contours and powerful rear section form a distinctive two-volume design, while the elongated side window graphic with the Hofmeister curve and flared rear wheel arches underscore its sporty elegance.
The Sparkling Lario exterior paint was created especially for the BMW Concept Touring Coupé. Embedded with blue glass scales, its grey-brown tones achieve a unique impression of depth. Accents in silver-plated bronze and the specially designed BMW grille with longitudinal bars complete the effect. The 20-inch front and 21-inch rear light-alloy wheels provide a logical continuation of these color accents in the 20-arm radial design. The intricate workmanship and the discreet gold-coloured surfaces underline the elegant sporty character of the vehicle.
BMW Concept Touring Coupé: interior design
The interior environment of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé has a singular change with respect to that of the Z4, which is the two-tone upholstery of the Italian Poltrona Frau leather workshop.
The precise perforations as well as the braided leather strips for the seat skirts and the skid bar underline the artisan character of the interior, which combines traditional craftsmanship at the highest level with modern design principles.
High-quality workmanship and attention to detail also characterize the luggage designed exclusively for the BMW Concept Touring Coupé by the veteran leather workshop Schedoni from Modena. The set, made to measure, consists of two large bags and a small one for the weekend, as well as a garment bag, all perfectly adapted and combined with the vehicle.
