Last year, BMW took to the annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este along Italy's Lake Como to prove that it can still make beautiful pieces of metal. The problem is, it just won't build them in volume numbers. The one-off Concept Touring Coupe stunned crowds with its elegant lines based on today's highly attractive Z4 roadster, serving as a modern-day tribute to the polarizing "clown shoe" Z3 M Coupe that graced BMW's lineup at the turn of the century. People liked what they saw, and the company's big wigs took note.

Rumors emerged late last year that BMW was preparing to put the new-age Z4 coupe into production, albeit in small numbers with a price tag unfathomable for most. This year has been met with silence regarding the potential project, but now rumor mills are opening their mouths once again––this time to tell us the Z4 coupe isn't happening after all.

A new report from BMW Blog suggests that there were indeed proposals within BMW to place this creation in collectors' garages, but the company eventually decided against giving it the go-ahead. Had this Z4 coupe gone into production, it wouldn't have been the first limited-run BMW to go from concept to reality. The brand recently brought the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept to life in the form of a bold M4-based few-off.

While fans of the BMW Z4 may be disappointed by the ill-fated return of the "clown shoe", they can at least enjoy the long-awaited return of a manual option for the small German roadster. Starting with the 2024 model year, buyers can option their six-cylinder M40i with a shift-it-yourself six-speed gearbox. However, looking further into the horizon, it has been said that BMW isn't planning another Z4. Enjoy this beautiful Bavarian runabout while you can.

Image Credits: BMW