BMW confirms its building production version of the Skytop concept but buyers looking to jump in are too late with the model already sold out.
BMW’s Sky Top concept is pushing the envelope of BMW design
When BMW unveiled the Skytop concept, the German car giant provided a glimpse into a future where BMW dipped its toes back into the bespoke world of coachbuilding with the elegant concept previewing a sleek two-door convertible that could provide enough performance to satisfy performance junkies while also enough style and open top serenity for comfort seekers.
However, the company didn’t reveal whether it intended to produce the stylish show car or not preferring to leave that up to the imagination of prospective buyers. However, demand for the car exceeded BMW’s projections with the firm confirming that it’s producing a road-going version of the Skytop. Unlike other models though, the time to buy one has passed with all of them already being sold out.
Performance and style blend together in Skytop
The production version of the Skytop will retain alot of its show car roots but with minor changes.
BMW didn’t release any photographs of the production version but did confirm that it would be only building 50 examples of the car with all of them being powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 lifted from the M8 with the Skytop also matching the M’s 617 hp rating. The company says that’s enough to help it make the sprint to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
But while the performance hardware is a copy-and-paste job, the exterior and interior styling goes in a noticeably different direction with the original concept having exterior styling that was inspired by the Z8 and the classic 507. Look for the core look to carry over largely intact but with minor changes to help the car meet safety regulations and practical needs with some of the concept’s more exotic features being swapped out for available production hardware. The interior will see fewer changes with BMW designers most likely retaining the strong emphasis on colors and providing occupants an airy feeling when they lower the top and go for a cruise up their favorite driving road. It also doesn’t hurt either that the cabin already had plenty of core features from the 8-Series already baked into its design.
The main difference here is the removable top with the Skytop pitching an electrically operated roof for a bespoke two-piece targa top that’s removed manually. The two pieces are wrapped in synthetic leather with the panels being stored in the trunk when the driver wishes to do open-top motoring.
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Sold out
The folding soft top quickly stows away inside a special compartment
BMW didn’t release pricing for the Skytop which makes sense since the model is officially sold out. However, separate reports have indicated that the car was available for €500,000 to select buyers which equals $547,000 when current exchange rates are applied to the price. While this makes the Skytop one of the most expensive BMW models ever built, it’s not the most expensive one. That title goes to the 3.0 CSL with that bespoke creation having a base price of over $800,000 when similar conversion rates are applied.
The Skytop is a glimpse into what BMW can achieve when it chooses to flex its design muscle but BMW is also focusing on more immediate concerns as it prepares to electrify its vehicle lineup. That includes a new generation of EV models with the “Neue Klasse” family attempting to push BMW into the EV wars in the form of a sedan and CUV. Other EVs will be coming in the next few years but BMW is also adjusting to changing market conditions with some of its green plans being altered as a result.
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