BMW Concept Skytop, Pays Homage To Iconic Z8 Roadster
BMW has unveiled the Concept Skytop design study, which is a one-of-a-kind vehicle that draws inspiration from the BMW 508 and iconic Z8. It’s an open top two-seater that has been meticulously crafted to portray an elegant silhouette that complements the athletic, muscular stance.
The car has a distinctive long swooping bonnet that infuses the BMW shark-nose design with an illuminated kidney grille and retracted rear section. There’s also the pronounced spline that extends from the bonnet to the interior, then carries on through to the aluminium trim positioned on the tailgate.
Its minimalist yet muscular structure flows towards the back directing the vehicle’s volume towards the rear. Instead of door handles, the Concept Skytop uses winglets that are discreetly tucked into the door pillars. The same is true for the lightweight alloy wheels with precise lamellas that add to the overall elegance.
This broad profile coupled with a conservative use of aluminium trim pieces provide a grand yacht-like presence to the car. It’s what the company says helps emphasize the dynamic flow of the silhouette. The extravagance both in design and choice of materials were fitting for when it was shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
“The BMW Concept Skytop is a truly unique and exotic 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, ” said Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.
A high level of detail lies within the thin, futuristic headlights. The LED sections that are positioned on milled aluminium carriers were custom developed for the BMW Concept Skytop. They utilize the latest lighting technology and design methodology resulting in the slimmest profile currently available on a vehicle.
All lighting functionality is consolidated to fit into a single block. It’s the same story for the rear lights as well, but its thin profile allows it to blend in with the rest of the bodywork. This is a major departure from what’s available on the current crop of BMW cars but is similar in appearance to the Z8 roadster.
Both the exterior and interior of this concept car feature warm monochromatic colours by incorporating premium materials with traditional craftsmanship. BMW says that the spacious, yet futuristic interior is meant to encourage the desire to travel.
Behind the Concept Skytop’s two seats is a leather-finished roll-over bar, side fins on the B-pillar as well as a fully retractable rear window. Its roof consists of two movable parts that are finished in leather, and when not in use can be stored in a special compartment in the luggage space.
Its leather seats feature brogue-style accents, and their reddish-brown tone of the surfaces creates a matching colour scheme that helps bring the entire luxurious interior together. BMW also embedded crystals throughout the interior to create an artful impression.
It also carefully matched the interior and exterior colours to create a smooth transition between the two regardless of whether the roof is on or not. The reddish-brown tone of the roof leads to the glistening silver of the exterior paintwork. The company says the careful colour selection and painstaking craftsmanship of the interior were done at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing.
Despite the futuristic look, the BMW Concept Skytop is slated to receive petrol engines, albeit the most powerful V8 ones in the company’s current portfolio. It’s fitting, considering the car draws inspiration from the legendary Z8 roadster, which was extremely underappreciated during its time.
