Design review BMW Concept Touring Coupé: ‘We missed that at BMW’

The exterior design of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé is defined by a two-box design, typical of shooting brakes. The profile in particular shows the very wrong proportions of the donor car, caused by the shared Toyota platform.

BMW Z4.

Compared to the Z3, the first and second generation Z4, the front overhang is unprecedented. The excessively pronounced grille graphics below the kidneys and left and right in the corners strongly detract from the nose. They visually lengthen the underbite, which can be reduced with all kinds of interventions. Especially in three-quarter front view, the Z4, also as a shooting brake, is a terrible device. The overhang presents itself there in full regalia.

BMW Z4 Coupe (2006).

The Z4 Coupé from 2006 – already with a much smaller overhang anyway – reduces the overhang even more due to a strong front bumper. This Z4 has a hard inward movement from the grille towards the fender. A very athletic design, from the Chris Bangle period. The shortcomings in the proportions of the current one are carried over into the surfacing. Hard – according to BMW: precise – but above all geometric and unexciting. The two previous Z4 generations did that considerably better. Nothing new under the sun: the sensitivity has been nowhere to be seen at BMW for several years.

BMW Concept Touring Coupé skilfully executed

However, this does not automatically mean that the BMW Concept Touring Coupé has been completely written off. The integration of the rear superstructure – the coachbuilt part of the Z4 – has been expertly executed. The donor car comes into its own, especially from the rear, and the sculpture can be seen again; we missed that at BMW. The way in which the expressive tailgate spoiler has been integrated is commendable. The dividing seams of the flap have been moved far inwards, compared to the solution used on the roadster. These seams naturally run, as if originally orchestrated, from below the rear light visually through the rear light upwards.

A heavier diffuser provides a better balance. This makes the superstructure visually lighter. The mass production unit would be too light a graphic element to provide sufficient optical counterweight to the longer continuous roofline. As we do with our own coachbuilding projects, the dividing seams of the Concept Touring Coupé have been reduced to a minimum. This would be a huge problem for mass production, but for one-off models it is a nice way to emphasize the skills of the coachbuilder. For example, the seams that run from the windscreen to the rear of a mass-produced car are often cleverly concealed by a plastic strip in the body color or a set of roof racks. They are therefore not present in such a unique car.

The BMW design team proves capable of skillfully redesigning a sports car that is weighed down by the yoke of terrible proportions. Straight from behind is a charismatic design with good stance. Due to the wide hips and reduction of visual weight at the top, due to the aforementioned diffuser working together with the windows. An apparently BMW kidney-inspired step has been made in the glass. The color and trim designers have been busy with interesting experiments. The soft bronze tint of the kidneys, wheels, daylight opening (DLO) and exhaust outlets look in perfect harmony with the brown paint. The tint is present exactly enough, but not too much.

The aesthetics of the Concept Touring Coupé tell about exemplary coachbuilding characteristics through sculpture control and special details. Tasteful, skilful and controlled. Is there a glimmer of hope on the BMW horizon?