BMW is comfortably able to charge half a million euros for a bespoke M8 and still sell out almost immediately. All 70 units of the Speedtop were snapped up shortly after the stunning two-door station wagon made its debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May. Although the company no longer needs to advertise this car, the three-door Touring is currently on display at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
We spent some time with the Speedtop, which is still technically a concept. However, the eventual production version will look almost identical. Imagine this car with parking sensors, a license plate and other small details. It already has windshield wipers and is therefore very close to the original. BMW has already started delivering its Skytop sibling with a targa roof, which is almost a copy of the previous model. Expect the two-seat station wagon to follow suit, with minimal changes from this show car.
While its design language doesn’t directly tie in with the Neue-Klasse family, the Speedtop introduces door handles that are “hidden in the beltline.” It’s a nice touch that will be used on future regular production BMWs. Along with the Skytop, these tiny winglets have already been spotted on prototypes of the next X5 (G65), due out in 2026, and on test vehicles of the X7 (G67), which will be launched a year later.
We wouldn’t be surprised if the X6 (G66) planned for 2028 also adopted these small electronic door openers, reminiscent of those on the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The benefits likely go beyond aesthetics: eliminating traditional door handles is expected to improve aerodynamics and efficiency, particularly for the iX5, iX6 and iX7 electric SUVs. Interestingly, the smaller New Class iX3 doesn’t have them, nor does next year’s i3 sedan.
Apart from Skytop and Speedtop, BMW isn’t finished yet. The company is open to developing further body construction projects. Better yet, there are even plans for the M division to eventually develop its own low-volume vehicle. The confidence of the people of Munich is likely to be strengthened by the overwhelmingly positive response to the two tailor-made M8s, despite their prices at Rolls-Royce levels.
In retrospect, BMW probably wishes that the Concept Touring Coupé based on the Z4 M40i had also been released for production. While it has not yet been announced which particular car will be on display at next year’s Concorso d’Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como, enthusiasts can hope that it also makes the leap from concept to reality. A limited, exclusive model every year could become a worthwhile tradition, although BMW must be careful not to overdo it.
Either way, the M8 received a fitting send-off with the Skytop and Speedtop before the 8 Series retires in 2026. The premium over the donor cars may seem excessive, but buyers of the 50 Skytop and 70 Speedtop clearly had a different opinion.
