Munich/Cernobbio. At this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the BMW Group has introduced the BMW Concept Skytop, an open two-seater that combines power, precision, and craftsmanship in an extraordinarily elegant package. This stunning vehicle, designed for luxurious travel, pays homage to BMW’s historic models, such as the BMW Z8 and BMW 503, while pushing the boundaries of automotive aesthetics and dynamics.
A Unique and Exotic Design
The BMW Concept Skytop stands out with its flowing, sporty elegance and athletic, muscular stance. The design study features warm monochromatic colors, exclusive materials, and traditional craftsmanship, creating a meticulously crafted vehicle sculpture.
“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 and Organic Body
The clean exterior design of the BMW Concept Skytop is crafted to inspire a desire to travel. Its taut, muscular surfaces are accentuated by a few precise lines that direct the vehicle’s volume towards the rear. The integration of winglets into the door shoulders, replacing conventional door handles, and the use of light-alloy wheels with precise lamellas, enhance its unique appearance.
The prominent, sweeping bonnet, the iconic BMW shark-nose design with an illuminated kidney grille, and the retracted rear section, all catch the eye from a bird’s eye perspective. The pronounced spline extending from the bonnet through the interior to an aluminum trim on the tailgate emphasizes the dynamic flow of the silhouette, drawing careful references to the legendary BMW Z8 roadster.
Innovative Lighting and Craftsmanship
The headlights of the BMW Concept Skytop blend complex details with the overall design concept. Custom-developed LED units, positioned on milled aluminum carriers, utilize the latest technology to create automotive headlights with the slimmest profile available. The clean, purist design consolidates all lighting functions into a single installation space, while the flat and defined shape of the rear lights complements the car’s overall appearance.
The interior features a leather-finished roll-over bar behind the two seats, combined with side fins on the B-pillar and a fully retractable rear window. Two removable roof parts, also finished in leather, can be stored in a special compartment in the luggage space, ensuring a seamless transition from interior to exterior, whether the roof is open or closed.
Brogue-Style Leather and Luxurious Interior
The interior of the BMW Concept Skytop is characterized by brogue-style leather surfaces. The reddish-brown tone of the leather seats creates a consistent color scheme, exuding luxury and spaciousness. Crystal applications embedded in the cockpit enhance the overall impression. The interior surfaces were crafted in the traditional saddlery of the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing.
Powerful Performance
Mirroring the legendary BMW Z8, the BMW Concept Skytop comes equipped with the most powerful V8 engine in BMW’s drivetrain portfolio, ensuring it not only looks the part but also delivers exhilarating performance.
With its exceptional design and innovative features, the BMW Concept Skytop reaffirms BMW’s commitment to combining luxury, precision, and driving dynamics, making it a standout at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
