BMW created a straight-6 Z4 Touring for Villa d’Este

What is your travel ideal? For many (myself included) it is a road trip driving their own car through Europe. Whether it’s going to France, Italy, Spain or, why not, Germany, driving on beautiful roads to reach destinations never seen before is always exciting.

They probably also think so in Munich, in BMWwhere to celebrate this concept they decided to create an unprecedented one-off concept car, to be presented at the 2023 edition of the Concours d’Elegance of Villa d’Este. Precisely from where I’m writing and from where I would like to try to tell you, in my own words, what this car means.

A unique Z4

The unique car you see in the picture is called BMW Concept Touring Coupé. It was conceived between the walls of the Bavarian house headquarters, but it was also built in Italy. The exteriors, in fact, were taken care of by the style center of Monaco, which designed the shapes starting from the current generation of Z4, the interiors, on the other hand, were covered entirely by hand in leather from Frau armchair.

BMW Concept Touring Coupé, the side vista

Looking at it parked in the greenery of Villa d’Este, it is immediately clear how the designers have looked to the past to conceive its forms, without however losing sight of current and future production. If the front, in fact, faithfully reproduces the shapes of the Monaco spider currently on sale, the rear completely distorts what was apparently the bodywork of a station wagon, with new headlights, a higher roof and an all-glass tailgate.

The rear of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé

Speaking of tradition, then, we cannot fail to mention the alloy wheels, in the classic style multirazza of BMW and in 20-inch format at the front and 21-inch at the rear, just like the cars produced by the sports division of the House, in addition to the inevitable Hofmeister elbow for the second side window.

Moving on to the interior, the car was deliberately designed with only two front seats upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, with the aim of leaving ample rear space for luggage. In fact, the latter can be loaded at will and in large quantities, even in the dedicated suitcase – created specifically for this one-off by the Italian atelier Schedoni.

BMW Concept Touring Coupé, interior gli

BMW Concept Touring Coupé, the dedicated suitcase

Finally, like any self-respecting propeller car, the dashboard has not lost its typical orientation towards the driver, to guarantee the classic 360-degree immersion that only true BMWs have always been able to guarantee.

See all the news about Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este

A philosophy of life

But what is the sense of a car like this today? The world is changing and we know this well. With him also mobility and if it is true that the word Touring in the BMW range has always represented the largest and longest cars intended for the family, it is also true that over time this concept has evolved, becoming in some ways also a synonym for sportsmanship.

BMW Concept Touring Coupé

Without bringing up the historic M5 Touring or the very latest and very powerful M3 Touring, the Eliche da viaggio have always been able to combine space for everyone with the usual driving pleasure of the corresponding sedan or coupe versions, giving smiles even to the fathers of demanding family.

Often, everything was also seasoned with well-proportioned petrol and diesel engines for the weights involved, as also in this case. Why yes, for once it is not a 100% electric concept, but powered by one of the most famous engines of BMW’s entire production to date: the 6-cylinder in-line petrol B58, strong in 340 CV in its latest series evolution.

The BMW Concept Touring Coupé su strada

An engine with adequate power and torque to guarantee fast transfers between one tourist location and another, perhaps listening to good music in complete comfort: precisely the true concept of Touring.

Domagoj Dukec, head of BMW Design, commented:

“The BMW Concept Touring Coupé celebrates original driving pleasure. A highly emotional vehicle like this demonstrates that a passion for all things driving pleasure has been essential over the centuries and will continue to be so.”