by BMW Speedtop spotted at the Nürburgring: luxurious shooting brake undergoing trials
An incredibly elegant BMW Speedtop, based on the 8 Series, is nearing production. Before wealthy collectors store it in a climate-controlled garage, BMW engineers are ensuring this large shooting brake can withstand a true test at the Nürburgring.
Spy photographers caught the prototype with an ultra-exclusive long roof lapping the German track. The car was covered in BMW’s signature camouflage, but this does not hide its dramatic proportions and elegant details. The extended roofline, tiny fin-style door handles, and ultra-slim rear lights remain identical to the Speedtop concept unveiled at Villa d’Este last May.
More: What if BMW made an SUV from its Speedtop?
The Speedtop looks incredibly elegant, and visual parallels can even be drawn with the new Vision Alpina coupe unveiled last week. Interestingly, the front end already looks somewhat dated in the Neue Klasse era, though it should become more distinctive when the camouflage is removed, revealing the raised central spine of the hood. This detail continues along the roof before tapering neatly towards the rear hatch, helping to visually unify the entire shape.
Endurance and chassis testing
According to photographers, the Speedtop looked perfectly at home charging around the ‘Green Hell,’ although few owners will ever drive it this aggressively. Such cars typically spend more time under soft interior lighting at concours d’elegance than on the track. But BMW still needs to ensure its special car, priced like a supercar, behaves like a true modern GT. And of course, testing at the Nürburgring is about more than just handling; it’s also about durability.
That it didn’t fall apart on the Nordschleife shouldn’t be surprising, given what’s under the hood. The Speedtop is based on the familiar BMW 8 Series architecture and is expected to use the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 as the M8 Competition. Power should be around 617 hp (625 PS), sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Proven M-Power hardware
Exclusivity and interior
When BMW first introduced the ‘wagon brother’ to the 2024 Skytop convertible, it described the Speedtop as an exclusive three-door interpretation of the BMW Touring. The production car remains remarkably faithful to that original vision, featuring a two-seat cabin and a luxurious luggage compartment focused on cargo.
BMW even designed special bags together with Schedoni, the company that creates luggage sets for Ferrari. That’s the level of attention to detail owners expect when paying over 500,000 euros (over $580,000 at current exchange rates) for a hand-assembled vehicle.
Production is reportedly limited to just 70 examples worldwide, with deliveries expected in 2027. None are planned for America, which likely won’t stop one or two wealthy collectors there from trying to acquire one.
Overall, this news underscores that even in the world of ultra-luxurious and limited series, BMW does not neglect engineering excellence. Testing at the Nürburgring for such a car is not merely a formality, but a way to confirm it is a true grand tourer, capable of combining luxury with dynamics. The limitation of 70 units and a price tag exceeding half a million euros make the Speedtop not just a car, but an investment asset and a work of art on wheels, which will likely become even more desirable due to its rarity and exclusivity.
