While it’s not being called a Z or Roadster yet, it certainly has that sporty heritage embedded in this new Concept Skytop. BMW just revealed this “design study” at Concorso d’Elenganza Villa d’Este. This presumably-convertible coupe design features sleek lines (that the press kit indicates were hand-drawn rather than A.I. or computer generated), aesthetically-pleasing kidney grilles, and an aggressive, tight appearance. With the included 617-hp 4.4-liter V8 with M TwinPower Turbo Technology from the M8 Competition, this car will get you there quickly. So quickly that you may want to check out adding a radar-detector if such things are legal in your locale.
Here’s BMW’s full press release about the new BMW Concept Skytop.
- Power, precision, and craftsmanship in an open two-seater for luxurious travel.
- Unique and exotic design with references to the historic BMW 503 and BMW Z8.
- An amalgam of aesthetics and dynamics at the highest level.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 24, 2024… With the BMW Concept Skytop design study, BMW is once again bringing an exceptionally elegant, one-of-a-kind vehicle to this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the annual gathering of historic cars and motorcycles held on the shores of Lake Como. The open two-seater resembles a meticulously crafted vehicle sculpture, with a flowing, sporty elegance that complements its athletic, muscular stance. The interior and exterior of the concept car feature warm monochromatic colors, blending exclusive materials with traditional craftsmanship.
“The BMW Concept Skytop is a truly unique and exotic design, in the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. “It offers a combination of driving dynamics and elegance at the highest level, comparable to its historic ancestors, like the BMW Z8 or BMW 503.”
Athletic proportions, organic body.
The clean exterior of the BMW Concept Skytop is designed to inspire a desire to travel. Its taut, muscular surfaces are defined by a few precise lines that direct the vehicle’s volume towards the rear. Winglets discreetly integrated into the door shoulders replace conventional door handles. Light-alloy wheels with precise gill-like features further enhance its unique appearance.
From a bird’s eye perspective, the prominent, sweeping hood, the iconic BMW shark-nose design with illuminated kidney grille, and sculpted rear section, all catch the eye. References to the legendary BMW Z8 roadster were carefully chosen. Especially striking is the pronounced spline that extends from the hood, through the interior, to an aluminium trim positioned on the trunk lid, emphasising the dynamic flow of the silhouette.
The harmonious design of the headlights blends highly complex details into the overall concept. The LED units, positioned on milled aluminum carriers, were custom developed for the BMW Concept Skytop, utilizing the latest technology and design for automotive headlights with the slimmest profile possible.
The clean, purist design allows all lighting functions to be consolidated in a single installation space. The flat and defined shape of the rear lights complements the BMW Concept Skytop’s overall appearance.
The leather-finished sport bar behind the BMW Concept Skytop’s 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 color scheme ensures a smooth transition from interior to exterior, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. In the rear section, the reddish-brown tone of the roof flows into the muted silver with chrome shadow effect of the exterior paintwork. The technically elaborate colour gradient was crafted by an experienced master painter at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing.
Brogue-style leather surfaces characterize the interior.
The leather seats in the interior feature brogue-style accents. The reddish-brown tone of the surfaces creates a consistent color scheme that gives the whole interior a sense of luxury and spaciousness. Crystal applications are artfully embedded in the cockpit, adding to the overall impression. The interior surfaces of the BMW Concept Skytop were crafted in the traditional saddlery of the BMW plant in Dingolfing.
Like the Z8 before it, the BMW Concept Skytop is powered by an engine from BMW M; in this case, the 617-hp 4.4-liter V8 with M TwinPower Turbo Technology from the BMW M8 Competition.
BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and assembles the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the BMW XM. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers,146 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
