When BMW unveiled the Speedtop at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. It wasn’t just a concept, it was a statement of intent. A handcrafted, limited-production coachbuilt masterpiece with only 70 units to its name, the Speedtop sold out instantly. In a world where exclusivity defines prestige, this car is already legend.

The Speedtop is a modern shooting brake in its most seductive form. Measuring nearly five metres in length, its stretched bonnet, sculpted roofline and flowing rear silhouette channel the spirit of grand touring icons, yet with a distinctly contemporary attitude. The metallic finish shifts from deep Sundown Maroon to a silken silver at the rear, following the spine of the car like a ribbon of light.

BMW’s legendary shark-nose grille sits low and wide, balanced by slim headlamps and a seamless body devoid of visible door handles or distractions. Every detail is deliberate. Even the wheels – unique 14-spoke two-tone alloys seem sculpted rather than manufactured.

Inside, the Speedtop reveals its true nature. This is not a car designed to be practical. It is tailored like a bespoke suit. The cabin is a composition of hand-stitched Sundown Maroon and Moonstone White leather, detailed with brogue-inspired perforations and crystal accents. Instead of rear seats, the luggage area features leather-strapped Schedoni suitcases, purpose-built for this model and illuminated with ambient lighting. It is less a trunk, more a private atelier.

Performance, of course, is never secondary. Underneath the elegant body lies BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, delivering over 600 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It shares its platform with the M8 Competition but has been entirely reimagined to reflect a different kind of motoring – one rooted in elegance and emotion, not lap times.

Each of the 70 Speedtops was assembled by hand in Dingolfing by a dedicated coachbuilding team. The price? Around 500,000 euros. Yet not a single example remains available. Every unit was reserved immediately by a global list of BMW’s most discerning clients. None will be sold in the United States, further enhancing the mystique surrounding this collector’s item.

The Speedtop is not just a car. It is a symbol of what happens when a manufacturer unchains its designers, focuses on emotion rather than volume, and invites its most loyal clientele to be part of the process. It marks a return to the art of coachbuilding and in doing so, writes a new chapter in BMW’s design legacy.

Written by Ricky Franklin