The BMW Concept Speedtop Is a Gorgeous Shooting Brake. It's Also Forbidden Fruit for Americans

Following the immense response to last year’s Skytop Concept, BMW has returned to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este this year with yet another design-forward “concept.” Known as the BMW Concept Speedtop, this long-roofed coupe brings a new sense of style to BMW’s beloved Touring lineup. It's also already been approved for production, but good luck getting your hands on one — especially if you live in America.

Following the long-awaited debut of the M5 Touring late last year, BMW has embraced the wagon ascetic with the latest M8-based project. The Concept Speedtop is a proper two-door shooting brake, however – perhaps borrowing a bit of inspiration from the Z3 / M Coupe, or “Clownshoe,” as it's affectionately known.

That said, the proportions on the new project are a bit more traditional than that icon, with a falling rear roof line. (There's almost a bit of Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo to the rear end.) Up front, the Speedtop mirrors the design language of the Skytop, which we'd say is an improvement on BMW's current series-production offerings. The two-toned roof is a nice touch, as are the awesome 14-spoke wheels.

bmw speedtop concept

“A true BMW exudes dynamism and elegance even when it’s standing still,” Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, said in a statement. “And that’s also the case with our new concept car. The BMW Concept Speedtop is characterized 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.”

The interior is also quite special, featuring materials that we don’t see in the typical Bimmers. It features a two-tone layout, with a nice mix between the hues. There’s even a unique light bar that runs across the ceiling to mirror the roof shape, a trick we’ve seen previously in the Bugatti Chiron.

bmw speedtop concept

BMW says that the Speedtop features the most powerful V-8 engine in the lineup, which makes sense, given the car’s M8 bones. The Competition variant of that car produces 617 hp and 553 lb-ft from a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. The M8's eight-speed automatic appears to be the sole transmission on offer.

The automaker has confirmed plans to put the Speedtop into production, but your chances of securing one are all but nil. BMW only plans to build 70 units of the shooting brake, with no units earmarked for the U.S. market. No word on pricing, but we’re sure the buyers don’t mind the secrecy. Here’s hoping BMW is able to bring some of this exciting design language to its actual products in the near future.

bmw speedtop concept front on shot with steam and clouds in the background