BMW brings back the shooting brake with the concept Touring Coupe

The Z4 roadster transforms into a stunning fastback that is said to be in the consideration for a limited production run.

By Alvin Lim / 31 Jul 2023

BMW, Cars, Gourmet, Lifestyle

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On the opening night of the 2023 Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza last week, driving rain set a dramatic stage for German luxury automaker BMW’s grand reveal of their throwback Concept Touring Coupe, a one-off that sees the sporty Z4 convertible transformed into ’90s-era shooting brake.

It was a fitting reveal for the annual vintage and classic car event – held as always on the western shore of Lake Como in Cernobbio – as the distinctive silhouette of the refitted Bimmer calls back to a design steeped in tradition.

The unique proportions which earned the body concept the nickname ‘clown shoe’ most recently featured in BMW’s 1997 Z3 M Coupe, but has been seen as far back as the BMW 02 Series Model variants in the 1970s – and even further back, the BMW 328 Touring Coupe that came out on top in the Mille Miglia endurance race in 1940.

Touring was the moniker used in the older two vehicles to distinguish them from sedans, which is also why the name features in the concept today.

Fashionable functions

Photo: BMWThe biggest departure from the standard Z4 looks-wise comes obviously in the vehicle’s rear, with an extended canopy that stretches all the way into the back, ending with a functional rear hatch.Other bespoke features for the BMW Concept Touring Coupe include a unique grey-brown livery flecked with blue glass flakes (dubbed Sparkling Lario) complemented by silver-bronze accents that appear on the vehicle’s tyre rims, window surrounds, exhaust tips and tweaked front grille.Related: BMW: The highly anticipated Z4 makes its debut

A peek into the interior

Photo: BMWThe interiors are largely similar to the stock Z4, save for the two-tone custom leatherwork by Poltrona Frau, a Turin-based furniture artisan.Rather than fitting extra seats into the now-empty rear compartment normally dedicated to the roadster’s soft-top, the concept vehicle maintains the Z4’s two-door status and shows off what the rear hatch can do – like stowing a bespoke three-piece luggage set courtesy of Modena’s Schedoni leather workshop for a (hypothetical) impromptu getaway in the countryside.As for what’s under the hood, BMW only deigned to reveal that the Touring Concept Coupe is “powered by the brand's hallmark six-cylinder in-line engine”, which we presume refers to the turbocharged heart that ships with the Z4’s souped-up M40i model.BMW did not reveal if the one-off has approved for a production run, though reports from media that attended the concept’s reveal in Italy indicate that a limited run is a possibility. Fingers crossed.

BMW, Cars, Gourmet, Lifestyle