- BMW has unveiled the Speedtop, a shooting brake follow-up to last year’s Skytop convertible.
- It features a two-seat layout and is described as a three-door interpretation of a BMW Touring.
- The special coachbuilt model will be limited to 70 units, none of which are destined for the U.S.
Update: BMW’s new three-door estate just made its real-world debut, and honestly, it might look even better in sunlight than it did in the studio. Unveiled over the weekend at the shores of Lake Como in Italy, the Speedtop finally showed off its curves in a natural setting. And seeing it out in the wild only raises one glaring question – why hasn’t BMW brought this level of design to the rest of its lineup? Instead, they’ve capped it at just 70 units. For everyone else, well, guess the joke’s on us. Original story follows below.
Coachbuilding might seem like a lost art in an age of SUVs and touchscreens, but BMW isn’t ready to let it go just yet. The brand is back with another bespoke creation, this time reimagining last year’s Skytop convertible as an elegant, shooting brake-style grand tourer called the Speedtop.
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Debuting in concept form at the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Speedtop will see a limited production run of just 70 units, though none are headed to the US.
Like the Skytop, the Speedtop sits on the familiar bones of the BMW 8-Series. That shared architecture brings a few packaging limitations, particularly when it comes to proportions, but BMW’s design team didn’t seem too bothered. They leaned into the creative challenge and sculpted an entirely new body with the aim of delivering what they call “an exclusive three-door interpretation of a BMW Touring.” The result? A shooting brake that’s as much sculpture as it is sports car.
A Familiar Face With a New Silhouette
Up front, the Speedtop sticks close to the Skytop’s formula, with narrow LED headlights, a glowing kidney grille, and a vented hood. The doors, complete with fin-style handles, carry over as well. Around back, the low-mounted, ultra-slim LEDs and oversized oval exhaust tips are also familiar.
What’s new is everything from the beltline up. What’s new is everything from the beltline up. The roofline now flows into a reshaped greenhouse and sculpted tailgate, finishing in a subtle roof spoiler. The rear quarter panels have been reworked to create a more cohesive, balanced look than the Skytop.
The rear overhang still exists, but the updated roofline does a better job of visually managing its bulk. One particularly sharp detail is the raised central spine that runs along the roof, an echo of the hood’s central vent, giving the whole silhouette some symmetry and purpose.
Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s Head of Design, described it like this: “The BMW Concept Speedtop is characterised first of all by its profile. It is very unique in the automotive industry. In this way, we have created an exclamation mark for our entire lineup of vehicles, especially for the Touring models.” Say what you will, but it’s clear this isn’t just another parts-bin project.
Room for Two, Plus Luggage
BMW said that the Speetop was designed for “weekend getaways for two”, which explains the two-seater configuration of the interior, rather than a 2+2. The elimination of the rear seats means that the model has heaps of space for cargo, emphasizing its grand touring character.
The luggage area is wrapped in leather and split by a central partition illuminated by ambient lighting. Behind the seats, there are two small compartments secured with leather straps, each designed to fit a custom-made bag from Italian firm Schedoni. They’ll even throw in a matching weekend bag for the trunk, assuming you’re into that level of commitment.
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The dashboard is carried over from the 8-Series, including the old-style digital cockpit with two separate screens, the optional crystal gear knob, and all of the switchgear. However, every surface in the Speedtop is covered in high-quality materials, with a few intricate details made possible by its low-volume production and the expertise of the Manufactory workshop at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing.
The concept features two-tone leather combining Sundown Maroon with Moonstone White. Other highlights include the light beam on the headliner, and the extension of the center console that rises towards the rear glass. BMW hasn’t gone into detail on customization yet, but you can safely assume buyers will get a pretty long menu of options.
BMW’s Most Powerful V8 Engine
BMW says the Speedtop is powered by “the most powerful V8 engine currently offered” in its lineup. That strongly points to the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 from the M8 Competition, which produces 617 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. That engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic, likely connected to BMW’s rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
There’s no word on performance specs just yet, but given the platform, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Speedtop borrows a few mechanical upgrades from the M8 as well – the adaptive suspension and carbon ceramic brakes among them.
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Limited, Expensive, and Not for America
The price of the BMW Speedtop remains under wraps, though it’s safe to assume it won’t be anywhere near affordable. Coachbuilt specials aimed at “collectors and connoisseurs” tend to live in the upper stratosphere of the price ladder. Whether the bump in production, from 50 Skytops to 70 Speedtops, will shift the pricing needle is still unknown, but don’t expect it to be a bargain by any stretch.
For those interested, BMW is currently accepting orders, but if you’re based in the United States, you’re out of luck. The company has confirmed that this coachbuilt creation won’t be offered for sale in the U.S., keeping it as a strictly overseas affair for now.