The BMW Concept Skytop was revealed as the Group’s latest design study at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Inaugurated in 1929 and held annually on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, the Villa d’Este Concours is considered to be the congregation of some of the finest historic cars and motorcycles. The open two-seater with a removable two-piece roof is “comparable to its historic ancestors, like the BMW Z8 or BMW 503,” according to Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.
The exterior of the BMW Concept Skytop is designed to inspire a desire to travel. A sweeping bonnet, with the iconic BMW shark-nose design, and illuminated kidney grille are signature BMW design traits. Special references to the Z8 Roadster, like the pronounced spline that extends from the bonnet, through the interior, to the aluminium trim positioned on the tailgate, have been cherry-picked. Discreetly integrated winglets in the door shoulders replace conventional door handles, further enhancing the study’s unique appearance. The LED headlamps, set on milled aluminium carriers, were custom-developed for the BMW Concept Skytop, with the slimmest profile currently available. The flat shape of the rear lights complements the Concept Skytop’s overall appearance.
The leather-finished roll-over bar behind the two seats is combined with side fins on the B-pillar and a fully retractable rear window. The two removable roof parts also finished in leather, can be stored in a special compartment in the luggage space.
The colour scheme of the Concept Skytop ensures a smooth transition from the interior to the exterior. At the rear, the reddish-brown tone of the roof flows into the muted silver with the chrome shadow effect of the exterior paintwork. The elaborate colour gradient was specifically curated by a master painter at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. Brogue-style leather surfaces headline the interior.
Like the Z8 Roadster, the BMW Concept Skytop also comes with the most powerful V8 engine, the 4.4-litre twin-turbo unit, in the BMW drive train portfolio.
Though it has been revealed as a design study, the Concept Skytop has the potential to become BMW’s next GT offering. However, the green light to enter production depends purely on potential customer response.