BMW Skytop Roadster: limited edition of 50 examples as a hint of the future

BMW ventures into the world of bespoke limited editions with the unveiling of the new Skytop convertible, a production version of the BMW Concept Skytop that was on display at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. It is a classic, elegant two-seater with a targa roof, of which only 50 examples are currently being built for collectors. As always, this circle of collectors is well-known to the brand, and all 50 cars have already been taken.

(Image credit: BMW)

So what can you expect on the manicured lawns of future Concours events? The Skytop was overseen by Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, who drew parallels with another recent limited edition car, the BMW 3.0 CSL, which was designed as a homage to the 1970s “Batmobile” BMW 3.0 CSL was built. The Skytop is more of a grand tourer and this time the reference points are two rare but no less desirable models from its roadster portfolio, the 1956 BMW 507 and the 1998 BMW Z8 (which itself is a throwback to the 1950s car was).

In terms of style, silhouette and simplicity, the Skytop is a far cry from many of the Bavarian automaker’s current models, especially its monumental, eye-catching SUVs like the iX, XM and X7. There was recently a small upheaval in BMW’s design department: former Polestar boss Maximilian Missoni took over this particularly difficult market position, namely the upper middle class and luxury class models.

Missoni is something of a minimalist, and while his appointment came many months, perhaps years, after the Skytop design was approved, it’s a sign that future BMWs may tone it down a bit.

In many ways the Skytop is more traditional. There are no batteries here, not even a hybrid system; This is a pure ICE vehicle, with BMW’s powerful 4.4-liter V8 producing 625 horsepower the old-fashioned way. It is equipped with an eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission and the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel drive.

Inside and out, the emphasis is on craftsmanship and elegance, with everything pared down to maximize the lines and shapes of the Floating Sundown Silver paint finish. The door handles, for example, take the form of winglets that extend up from the door shoulders, while the integrated lighting embedded in the BMW kidney grille defines the shark-nose shape that has been familiar to BMW enthusiasts for decades.

The soft-top roof is covered in leather, as is the roll bar, which gives the car its Targa-like profile. To bring the car into its open form, two roof sections are removed and stored in the luggage compartment. Further accessories and features come from BMW’s luxury models, including the BMW Live Cockpit Professional setup with head-up display.

It is not yet known whether the Skytop style will also find its way into future (mass) production BMWs. For decades, BMW has presented itself as a design monolith, an aesthetic juggernaut that is often more innovative than inspiring. With a new era underway, the Skytop may be the spearhead for a softer, more elegant design direction of the future.