BMW cancels next-gen "clown shoe" project

Remember when BMW unveiled the stunning Concept Touring Coupe? While it may look like a production vehicle, the concept is actually a one-off wagon that features a shooting brake silhouette, staggered wheels (20 inches at the front, 21 inches in the rear), and generous luggage space in the back complete with a matching set of leather bags.

Despite being a one-off by BMW, the Concept Touring Coupe caused a buzz as many believed it could serve as a preview for the all-new Z4 Coupe. Heck, plenty of enthusiasts also believed that the Concept Touring Coupe could just be a thinly-veiled “clown shoe”.

Unfortunately, it seems the Concept Touring Coupe will remain just that, a concept. According to a report by BMW Blog, while the German automaker initially thought about making a limited number of examples for production, BMW ultimately decided to not go through with transforming the roadster into a shooting brake.

Sources close to the matter have reportedly said that high-ranking executives have decided against selling the shooting brake to customers due to high costs. Apparently, there was already a business case that would see 50 examples of the concept going into production. More importantly, each one will reportedly cost an eye-watering USD 250,000 (or around PHP 14 million).

Given the high price and limited examples that will be made, it seems BMW executives crunched the numbers and found out that selling such a vehicle would not be viable. With that, the dreams of seeing another “clown shoe” BMW rolling off the factory floor will remain just that, a dream.

Did you think BMW made the right call in not making a next-generation clown shoe? Or could the automaker have at least tried making a smaller batch of the shooting brake for a select few? Let us know in the comments what you think.