BMW revealed the jaw-dropping Concept Coupe Mille Miglia pictured here in Italy ahead of the 2006 Mille Miglia race. With little chance of production, it must have been fantastic for the concept car's designers to be given such a free reign on a show car.

Though many fans associate the Mille Miglia with Italian sportscars, along with Stirling Moss's exploits in various Mercedes, BMW has quite a history in the race too and this concept pays homage to that racing heritage. The original race was run on public roads over 1,000 miles, as suggested by the name. Bearing in mind the public roads were open, you may be astonished to discover that the average speed record set for the race in 1940 by the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe was nearly 104mph. That's an average over the 1,000 miles!

Though the new concept would no doubt be capable of such a feat thanks to its Z4M-sourced 3.2-litre straight-six, the race no longer takes the same format.

BMW's designers have done an incredible job of mixing old and new in the Mille Miglia Concept Coupe. The long tapering tail, split windscreen and rear wheel spats all point towards the 328 Coupe, as do the huge circular lights at the front, seeming to be saucers glued either side of the evocative BMW grille. This is where cutting-edge technology starts to play a part in the designers' freedom; though flat and mounted on a sharply contoured part of the body, the lights work, thanks to LED technology.

Squint and you'll see hints of the current Z4 Coupe and even the hydrogen-powered H2R record-breaking car. Take a look at the front view of the concept, and with the lights illuminated you can just about make out what looks like BMW-standard circular 'ring' lights hidden under the bonnet above the large circular items. The wheels, despite their retro design measure 20 inches in diameter. BMW's 'flame-surfacing' is evident too, with extravagant curves and sharp edges swooping into one another. Have you noticed the lack of door openings? Well, the whole canopy hinges from one side instead. Here's one concept that is unashamedly retro and all the better for it.

Shane O' Donoghue - 11 May 2006