BMW Might Build This Unique, Z8-Inspired Convertible Concept
One of the stars on display at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este that took place this past weekend on the shores of Lake Como in Italy was a magnificent, targa-style convertible concept from BMW called Skytop.
The company’s head of design, Adrian van Hooydonk, described it as a truly unique and exotic car offering “a combination of driving dynamics and elegance at the highest level, comparable to its historic ancestors, like the BMW Z8 or BMW 503.”
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He even hinted at an extremely limited production run—20 to 25 units, approximately—making it a halo car similar to the upcoming Mythos series from rival Mercedes-Benz. But don’t get too excited, as BMW has a habit of releasing one-off concepts that never receive the green light. Remember the Z4 Touring Coupe introduced last year, also at Villa d’Este?
The Skytop is based on the M8 Cabriolet and boasts a tauter, more chiseled silhouette, with aerodynamics being a key focus. Look at the uniquely styled 21-inch alloy wheels or the little winglets replacing the door handles, just like on the Vision Neue Klasse X concept. Particularly striking is the pronounced spline that extends from the hood, through the interior, to an aluminium trim positioned on the rear deck lid.
The muted silver body paint with chrome shadow effect was specifically created for this car, while the headlights and taillights were designed in super-slim packages. The reddish brown leather-finished rollover bar just 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 trunk.
The interior is completely wrapped in the same material, which combines with crystal applications in various places including the shifter. The centre stack is driver-oriented. Other than that, we would have liked to see a bit more extravagance out of this supposedly exclusive concept.
By the way, motivation comes from BMW’s most potent engine, a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 delivering 617 horsepower. We wouldn’t expect anything less for a halo car. In fact, a little extra power would be a good thing. Let’s see if the German automaker actually goes forward with the Skytop.