Let’s talk about something so stunning it makes your eyes water and your wallet wail: the BMW Speedtop. This isn’t a car. It’s a rolling masterpiece, a love letter to everything beautiful in a world choked with dull crossovers and electric cookie-cutter sausages. If you thought BMW was only capable of churning out grille-heavy behemoths and tame hybrids, think again. The Speedtop is here, and it’s breathtaking.
Let’s start with the looks, because, honestly, that’s what drops your jaw. The Speedtop is the closed-roof sibling of the Skytop, which last year left chins on the floor at the Concorso d’Eleganza by Lake Como. But where the Skytop had an open top to let your hair dance in the Italian breeze, the Speedtop is a coupé – or rather, a shooting brake with a dash of posh British flair. The bodywork is a work of art: flowing lines, a central ‘spline’ running from the bonnet over the roof to the rear spoiler, and a paint job that shifts from deep Floating Sunstone Maroon to shimmering Floating Sundown Silver. It’s as if the car was painted by a sunset that had one too many glasses of wine. The slim LED headlights and subtle, illuminated kidney grille seal the deal – no oversized kidneys that could swallow a lorry, but an elegant nod to BMW’s classic designs.
Inside, it’s no less spectacular. Step in, and you’re in an Art Deco salon on wheels. The cabin is draped in Sundown Maroon and Moonstone White leather, adorning the dashboard, doors, and seats. Yes, those white seats look like they’re begging for a stain from your jeans, but who cares when you’re sitting in something this gorgeous? The ambient lighting follows that central spline line across the ceiling, and in the boot – which, by the way, has two levels – you’ll find handmade Schedoni bags, secured with leather straps. This isn’t a car for your weekly supermarket run; it’s a car for a weekend in Monaco with a suitcase full of champagne and caviar.
Under the bonnet lies the real beast: a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 pumping out 617 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, lifted straight from the M8 Competition. This isn’t an engine; it’s a volcano waiting to erupt. Paired with an eight-speed automatic and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the Speedtop promises performance that’ll make your trousers flutter. Exact 0-100 km/h figures aren’t out yet, but let’s be real: with this kind of power, ‘insanely fast’ is a safe bet. And with adaptive suspension and optional carbon-ceramic brakes, this isn’t just a straight-line monster but a machine that devours corners like an Italian pasta dish.
Now, the bad news – or good, depending on how deep your pockets are. BMW is building just 70 of these masterpieces. That’s it, done, no more. And if you live in the US, forget it; this beauty isn’t officially for sale there. The price? No one dares say it out loud, but whispers suggest around €580,000. Yes, you read that right. This isn’t a car for the average Joe, but for the select few with a garage full of Ferraris and a villa in Dubai. And let’s be honest: if you’ve got the cash, this is the ultimate way to show you’ve got taste and balls of carbon fibre.
What makes the Speedtop so special? It’s not just the looks or the power. It’s that BMW is taking a risk. In an era where most cars look like copies of copies, the Speedtop is a statement. It’s a car that says, “Yes, we can still make beautiful things, and no, we don’t need to please everyone.” It’s a blend of retro romance, like the old M Coupé, and modern tech from the M8, with a sprinkle of haute couture thanks to those Schedoni details. This isn’t a car you’ll see in traffic; it’s a car you’ll spot at a concours d’élégance or in an auction house where millionaires bid like it’s a Picasso.
But let’s come back to earth for a moment. For most of us, the Speedtop remains a dream, a poster on the wall, a wallpaper on your phone. And that’s fine, because dreaming is allowed. And if you’re still in the market for something special, something that makes your heart race, take a look at our marketplace. At https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/, you’ll find cars that may not be as exclusive as the Speedtop but are ready to enrich your garage. Who knows, you might just find your own slice of driving joy.
