BMW Touring Coupe concept may get limited production run

COMO, Italy – BMW has resurrected the spirit of the original Z3 Coupe with the Touring Coupe concept, and is considering limited production of the two-seat shooting brake, which was originally developed as a one-off model based on the Z4.

The concept, unveiled here on the eve of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este classic car show, is intended for the joy of travelling together, BMW says.

The Touring Coupe is for “two people and their luggage, enjoying their drive from Munich to Como,” Adrian Van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group design, told reporters on the sidelines of the concept unveiling on Friday.

Drawing on design ideas first explored on the Z3 Coupe that was launched in 1998, three years after the Z3 roadster, the Touring Coupé retains the familiar styling of the latest Z4 roadster at the front but has a long roofline and a tailgate at the rear to provide added everyday practicality.

It draws inspiration from the 328 Touring Coupe that won the 1940 Mille Miglia as well as the 2002 Touring from the early 1970s, BMW said. The interior features leather from the Italian company Poltrona Frau and custom luggage from Schedoni.

Van Hooydonk said that used Z3 Coupes now sell for much higher prices than Z3 roadsters, showing that this type of body still has a potential market.

While the Touring Couple probably does not have enough potential demand to merit a full production run, Van Hooydonk said he could see a limited run of nine highly customized units.

But BMW brand’s design director, Domagoj Dukec, pushed the needle further, saying the company could consider building up to 1,000 units to still benefit from simplified homologation rules applied to limited production models.