With the golden era of coachbuilding, which has been behind us for a long time, the shooting brakes are now only a few. The rare modern examples include Ferrari FF, its GTC4LUSO successor and the BMW -own Z3 M Coupé. We also remember Zagato’s beautiful long-roof aston Martin Vanquish, but the heyday of shooting brakes is now a distant memory.
However, BMW visited the formula in 2023 with the Concept Touring Coupé to give plans to revive the legendary “clown shoe”. To be fair, it was never officially confirmed for production. Fast lead to 2025, and the Speedtop is to be produced in a limited run of 70 units, each at a price of € 500,000.
None of the rotary brakes we mentioned fits the shape of the M8-based car. At least that’s the view of the BMW Group Head of Design, Adrian van Hooydonk. In an official video in which the speedtop was presented, he explains: “There were already a few shooting brakes, but I would say that there has never been a relationship like speedtop.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQy8o7qzloo
It is certainly a courageous claim, especially if you consider some of the remarkable designs of the past. The Aston Martin DB5 shooting brakes brakes to my mind, exactly the Volvo P1800 ES. A less well -known but also striking example is the Lamborghini 400gt Star II designed by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera as the only car that bears the raging bull.
Adrian van Hooydonk refers to the concept, but the production version will probably look practical. The speedtop is essentially a two-door M8 tour with two tits on BMW’s wealthiest customers and follows the last year with Targa-Top-Skytop. This convertible was associated with a similar price, but was even more exclusive and limited only 50 units.
And there is more. Additional models with low volume will probably follow the M4 CSL-based 3.0 CSL, Z4 M40I-based Touring Coupé and the M8-based duo. Speak to Autocar In the Concorso d’Elanza Villa d’Este van Hooydonk said:
“At BMW I think we are in business, dream cars and fulfill these dreams from time to time. We have been doing so many show cars for so many years – here too in the Villa d’Este – and we occasionally turn these dreams occasionally. The chances are pretty good that we will do it again.“”
