The BMW Nazca M12 is the most expensive BMW ever made, with a price tag of $3 million. Originally conceived as a flagship roadster rivaling Ferrari, this open-top concept car from 1991 housed the 850CSi's V12 making 450 hp. Only 7 prototypes were built before production costs and complex regulations axed BMW's ambitious plans to challenge the elite supercar market.
When it comes to luxury vehicles, BMW consistently sets the standard for performance, innovation and style. They have some of the most coveted cars on the planet in their lineup. However, there are some ultra-exclusive BMW models that go far beyond even their highest regular production vehicles when it comes to cutting edge design and stratospheric pricing.
Top 10 Most Expensive BMW
#10: BMW M5 CS
The recently released M5 CS sits at the base of the list as the “most affordable” of these exotic BMWs. However, with a $120,000 price tag and a high-revving 4.4L V8 putting out 627 horsepower, the special edition M5 CS is still an absolute monster of a production sedan.
It rockets to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds thanks to track-ready lightweight components and suspension upgrades. Only 1,230 units will be built.
#9: BMW X7 M50i
BMW’s range-topping luxury SUV currently goes for over $130,000 fully loaded. For a three-row family hauler, that kind of money gets you a 523 horsepower twin-turbo V8 accompanied by supremely posh creature comforts inside.
The X7 proves that BMW can still make a big SUV ride and handle like a proper Bimmer.
#8: ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe
For those wanting exotic European luxury with a touch more fly-under-the-radar refinement, Germany-based ALPINA offers specially upgraded BMWs like their B8 Gran Coupe.
It features a 600 horsepower twin-turbo V8 and a top speed just over 200 mph – all wrapped in gorgeous hand-finished cabin detailing front to back.
#7: BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe
One of BMW’s current production range-toppers, the sleek M8 Competition Gran Coupe combines practical four-door space with blistering coupe-like performance care of a more powerful version of the 4.4L twin turbo V8 pumping out 617 horsepower.
It elicits big grins whether commuting in full luxury mode or carving canyons at the limit.
#6: BMW 760Li with V12 B7 Alpina B12s
The BMW 760Li’s 6.6 liter twin turbo V12 is already an absolute beast, but this B7 Alpina version adds enhancements like larger turbos, intake and exhaust tweaks to push output to over 600 hp while wrapped in the 7-series’ poshest cabin trim.
With a new price of a quarter million bucks, the 760Li B7 demands a very well-heeled driver.
#5: BMW M5 G-Power Hurricane RRs
This ultra-exclusive M5 build by noted BMW tuner G-Power started life already packed with 591 horses. Then the 4.4L V8 got twin-turbos along with meth-injection and other radical upgrades to achieve a reality-warping output of 888 hp!
Only 10 customer Hurricane RRs were built, storming to over 230 mph…and draining bank accounts.
#4: BMW X5 Le Mans Concept
Completely unhinged from reality yet fully driveable, this X5 Le Mans concept shoehorned the deafening V10 from an early 2000s BMW open-cockpit prototype racer into a production X5 SUV body, linked up to the 6-speed manual also used by the legendary E46 M3.
Producing 700+ hp and lacking anything resembling restraint, this $1 million fantasy machine really could lap race tracks at speed.
#3: BMW M8 E31 Prototype
The M8 is an almost mythic, rarely-glimpsed beast. BMW teased prototypes back in the early 1990s, but never pulled the trigger on an 850CSi-based production M8 supercar.
This fully functioning prototype example was actually raced successfully by a private BMW team in period events. Physically stunning with a 5.6L V12 making over 550 hp, this only-of-its-kind piece of BMW history auctioned for $1 million a couple years ago.
#2: BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept
Rendered in 2015 to honor BMW’s legendary 3.0 CSL racer of the 1970s, this stunning one-off design exercise took retro inspiration to extremes in terms of both outlandish styling and obsessive aerodynamic details.
But most shockingly, it was fully functional – housing a straight six twin-turbo inline engine claimed to produce 500 hp. Originally valued at $1 million, the winning bid was $1.5 million when it sold at auction.
#1: BMW Nazca M12
The open-top Nazca M12 began life as a concept through an Italian design firm back in 1991, intended to sit atop BMW’s lineup as a flagship roadster rivaling Ferrari. Powered by an 850CSi V12 making around 450 horses, the production costs and complexity of meeting road regulations were too much even for BMW.
Only seven prototypes were made; today they trade hands only between die-hard high-roller collectors in the multi-million dollar range.