Though BMW surprised us with the unveiling of the Z4 Coupe Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it doesn't take a genius to work out that this car is destined for BMW showrooms in the very near future. Indeed, the wordy press material contains this sentence: "... the decision to build such an emotional two-seater Sports Coupe as a regular production model is almost obvious". Yup, it sure is!

So forget the 'concept' tag and take a closer look at the Z4 Coupe. The show car is finished in Glacier Silver, a new colour with a silky matt appearance. Look closely at the dark 19-inch alloy wheels and you'll see that the 'spokes' sit at different heights to each other, giving the car a distinctive stance. The long bonnet of the Z4 is emphasised by the addition of a rear hatch, but thanks to the characteristic Hofmeister "kick" in the rear windows and the integrated rear spoiler, the Coupe actually looks well proportioned.

The designers were given some freedom inside the concept car, with extensive use of soft Nubuk leather alongside unusual, but classy, woven leather. Aluminium is the other material of choice, with many components machined from solid billets, enhancing the feeling of quality. Not all these features will see production, but it is possible that the Z4 will receive an interior upgrade when the production version of the Coupe is announced early in 2006. Another item from the show car likely to make its way into the Z4 range is BMW's excellent lightweight 3-litre straight six. Putting out up to 265bhp, this engine is claimed to push the Z4 Coupe to its 155mph speed limiter, hitting 62mph in just 5.7 seconds. Very precise figures for a concept car don't you think? We think we'll know the on sale date before its launch in Geneva 2006.

Shane O' Donoghue - 13 Sep 2005