BMW Skytop Concept receives a strictly limited production run

The Skytop made a splash at the Villa d’Este Concours back in May in design study form and the strong, positive response encouraged BMW to go into production and it likens the Skytop to its recent 3.0 CSL limited-run, also a collector’s item paying homage to the 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” of the 1970s.

An open-top two-seater, the Skytop follows previous BMW roadsters like the 507 and Z8, with a sculpted, athletic body, arrow-shaped bonnet and BMW shark-nose design all tributing the latter.

Creating a feeling of timeless elegance has been the focus of BMW’s design concept; winglets replace conventional door handles and the LED headlights at both the front and rear have the slimmest profile currently available, a custom design for the Skytop. The front design also features an illuminated BMW kidney grille, and there is a pronounced spline from the bonnet all the way down to an aluminium bar on the boot lid.

A 4.4-litre 625PS (460kW) V8 engine lies under that bodywork, and with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system for maximum traction, the Skytop reaches 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds.

Inside, there is a warm, monochrome colour palette to “create a feeling of cosseting luxury and singular elegance.” Leather seats feature brogue-style accents which match the colour of the roof – a reddish-brown that looks far better than it sounds, which then blends into the Floating Sundown Silver colour of the bodywork, all of which was hand-applied by master painters.

The leather-trimmed soft-top roof is said to create “a pure-bred roadster feeling,” while there is also a leather-covered roll bar and fully retractable rear window with a special storage compartment for the two removable sections located in the luggage area.

Crystal detailing in the cockpit adds to the luxurious feel, alongside soft-close function on the doors, a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround sound system, and the instrument cluster, BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional, includes Head-Up display which helpfully projects information directly into the driver’s field of vision.

Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design, said: “The BMW Skytop is a truly exotic design and offers a combination of driving dynamics and elegance at the highest level. To finally be able to announce that this car will be built is like a dream come true. Thank you for the very positive response around the globe and to the passionate team that worked on the project.”