BMW Concept Skytop for Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

It seems to be the year of dropping the top as both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have come out with exclusive open-topped concept cars this month. At the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, Mercedes-Benz is displaying its Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed while at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este along Lake Como in Italy, BMW has unveiled its  Concept Skytop design study.

The one-of-a-kind open 2-seater resembles a meticulously crafted vehicle sculpture, with a flowing, sporty elegance that complements its athletic, muscular stance. Its clean exterior, with a few precise lines that direct the vehicle’s volume towards the rear, is designed to inspire a desire to travel. Winglets discreetly integrated into the door shoulders replace conventional door handles. Light-alloy wheels with precise lamellas further enhance its unique appearance.

From any perspective, the prominent, sweeping bonnet, the iconic BMW shark-nose design with illuminated kidney grille and retracted rear section, all catch the eye. References to the Z8 roadster were carefully chosen. Particularly striking is the pronounced spline that extends from the bonnet, through the interior, to an aluminium trim positioned on the tailgate, 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 aluminium carriers, were custom developed for the concept, utilising the latest technology and design for automotive headlights with the slimmest profile currently available.

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 Concept Skytop’s overall appearance.

The leather-finished roll-over bar behind the 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 colour 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 leather seats in the interior feature brogue-style accents. The reddish-brown tone of the surfaces creates a consistent colour 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.

While this is just a design study, BMW proposes the most powerful V8 engine in the BMW drive train portfolio, just like the legendary Z8 roadster.

“The BMW Concept Skytop is a truly unique and exotic design, in the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este,” said 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 Z8 or 503.”

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