BMW fans have exeprienced somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster as of late. There have been some lows, like the divided response to the latest M3’s front end or new M5’s curb weight, but then there have also been plenty of highs, like the long-awaited M3 Touring and numerous jaw-dropping concepts. On that note, following on from other showstoppers unveiled at Consorso d'Eleganza Villa d’Este — such as the Touring Coupe Concept and last year’s Skytop — the Bavarian marque has just pulled the covers off a brand new three-door Touring concept, dubbed the Speedtop.
Essentially a shooting brake version of the Skytop, the Speedtop shares much of its design from the belt line down with last year’s concept, including the pronounced V-shaped front end with its shark nose design, low profile front and rear lights, and illuminated kidney grille. Meanwhile, the jewel-like, two-tone 14-spoke wheels are specifically designed for this Touring concept.
The Speedtop adopts a colour combination that is almost the exact reverse of the targa-roofed two-door from last year. The exterior is finished in a brown tone called “Floating Sunstone Maroon”, accentuated by a colour gradient on the roof that transitions to “Floating Sundown Silver” towards the spoiler. Peering inside the interior, you’ll discover a mix of “Sundown Maroon” leather upholstery for the dash and centre console and “Moonstone white” hide for the plush seats and lower portions of the cabin. The central spline that splits the Speedtop’s exterior — spanning from the gap in the iconic kidney grille, across the bonnet, and to the rear roof-mounted spoiler — is mirrored by a light beam integrated into the two-tone leather headliner inside the cabin, adding to the ambience.
Certain elements shared with the M8 production model do deviate from the concept car aesthetic, such as the familiar infotainment screen, but BMW’s upholstery department has pulled out all the stops for the Speedtop, with its brogue-style perforations accentuating the leather-trimmed surfaces. Indeed, passenger comfort seems to be a top priority for the Speedtop, which BMW states was designed to invite “Weekend getaways for two”.
The Speedtop certainly boasts ample luggage space for almost any holiday imaginable, especially with the two-level storage in the leather-clad trunk. Additionally, while a pair of kiddy seats could have easily been installed behind the driver, instead BMW have designed a rather elegant parcel shelf with matching two-tone luggage embroidered with the Speedtop logo, produced in collaboration with none other than legendary automotive luggage specialists Schedoni.
So, as far as concept cars go, the Speedtop ranks among the most practical ever made by BWM, but that’s not how it got its name. Under the hood, you’ll find the most powerful V8 in BMW’s portfolio. The firm has remained tight-lipped on specs, but considering it’s based on the M8 grand tourer like its Skytop sibling, expect the spec sheet to eclipse that of the standard production model, which already boasts an impressive 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, expect the Speedtop to be suitably rapid.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design, had this to say about his latest creation: “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 the Touring models.” Like any good halo model, and last year’s Skytop, the Speedtop will see a highly limited production run to satiate the most fanatical BMW collectors and enthusiasts.
