Oof: new V8-powered BMW Speedtop unveiled

It would seem that BMW’s Concept Skytop from last year’s Villa D’Este made a very good impression in real life as well as online. Following confirmation that a few of those would be built for well-heeled collectors, BMW has followed it with the Concept Speedtop for the 2025 running of the Lake Como extravaganza. Like last year’s roadster, the Speedtop gets V8 power, exquisite materials, and a bold, beautiful design. They’re going to make this one, too – what a pair Speedtop and Skytop look set to make. 

BMW suggests that the Speedtop is an ‘exclusive three-door interpretation of a BMW Touring’, proof if it were needed that even multimillionaires can’t resist a fast Bimmer wagon. Only this is somewhat different to anything we’ve seen made by BMW, a traditional shooting brake brought up to date with modern details. It’s a long, large, broad BMW flagship, complete with slim front lights and just-about-appropriately sized kidney grilles, albeit with a hatchback. A very neatly incorporated one it looks like, too, complete with a Hofmeister kink, some careful crafting of the rear haunches, and a nice rake to the rear glass. Plus a huge pair of exhausts to remind all around of its 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 heart. Anyone who finds themselves gawping at the Speedtop in preference to the Skytop certainly isn’t alone. 

As with last year’s concept, the new model gets a spectacularly overhauled cabin, described by BMW as a ‘generous interior for weekend getaways for two’ – complete with Schedoni luggage set even. As well as the pair behind the seats, a weekend bag will be offered to Speedtop clients. As with the open-top car, the colour scheme inside mirrors that of the exterior, here with the brogue-like detailing on Sundown Maroon and Moonstone White seats. The roof spline that ran through the entirety of the Skytop is here too, and actually makes it to the headliner alongside. Any issues with familiar BMW switches will probably be dismissed in a haze of gorgeous-smelling hide. And at least it’s a BMW interior with some switches…

The outside is painted Floating Sunstone Maroon, a lovely deep red that we’d guess is new and unique to the Speedtop. Same for the new 14-spoke wheels which, despite officially being called two-tone, are predominantly silver – and look all the better for it. More like this please, BMW, even if it is just nicer-looking wheels. 

Adrian van Hooydonk, as Head of BMW Group Design, rightly sounds quite proud of the Concept Skytop: “A true BMW exudes dynamism and elegance even when it’s standing still, and that’s also the case with our new concept car. 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.” 

It’s certainly giving glamour in a way that no other BMW currently in production can. They really are going to make the Speedtop, too, and if the images seen of a Skytop in testing are anything to go by, then it won’t change much between concept stage and a place in the portfolio. There will be 70 produced, finished with ‘the expertise of the Manufactory workshop’ at Dingolfing, compared to 50 Skytops. It appears that there really is an opportunity to grab one, too; this car has remained top secret, and today’s press release states that the Speedtop is available to order. So don’t delay – European road trips will never be quite the same again.