AUTONEWS

BMW Speedtop goes into production

BMW has once again presented an exclusive car at the traditional Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy. It is the BMW Speedtop Concept, in fact a Shooting Brake version of last year’s BMW Skytop.

Since it has now been confirmed that the Skytop will be produced in a limited edition of 50 units (which have already sold out), it is no surprise that the Speedtop will also end up in series production. Admittedly, the series here is not large either, but with 70 announced units it is still somewhat larger than in the case of the Skytop.

Adrian van Hooydonk, head of design at BMW, says this among other things: “The BMW Speedtop is characterized above all by its profile. It is very unique in the automotive industry. In this way, we have created an exclamation point for our entire vehicle line, especially for the Touring models.”

However, the Speedtop is designed for “weekend trips for two”, which explains the interior configuration with two seats, not 2+2. Removing the rear seats means the model has plenty of cargo space, emphasizing its grand touring character.

The luggage compartment is lined with leather and divided by a central partition illuminated by ambient lighting. Behind the seats are two small compartments secured by leather straps, each designed to fit a custom-made bag from Italian firm Schedoni.

The dashboard is taken from the 8 Series, including a digital cockpit with two separate screens, an optional crystal gear lever and all the switches. However, every surface in the Speedtop is covered in high-quality materials, with Sundown Maroon and Moonstone White leather.

BMW says the Speedtop is powered by “the most powerful V8 engine currently offered” in its lineup. That’s a nod to the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the M8 Competition, which makes 625 hp and 750 Nm of torque. That engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, along with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.

The price for the BMW Speedtop has not been officially announced yet, but it is clear that it will not be small (although the British media unofficially mention figures of 430,000 to 500,000 pounds). And it is also clear that the entire series will sell out very quickly, as was the case with the Skytop.

Autonews