THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
At the moment it’s a prototype, but who knows what the future may bring? Presented last May by BMW as a design exercise described as “exotic”, the Concept Skytop could soon become a reality. With two seats and opening roof, this open-top would be ideal for luxury travel and could be built in limited numbers using exquisitely artisanal methods
by Diego Tamone - ph. courtesy by BMW
A view from above reveals the longitudinal ridge that sweeps from shark-nose front to the sides of the rear window and then disappears as it approaches the tail of the car, a distinctive stylistic feature of the BMW Concept
Skytop
The news, quietly leaked at the latest Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, began to spread among fans of custom-build cars, gaining traction as the initial rumours gathered strength. The BMW Concept Skytop, revealed to the public during the Italian event that took place in May on the western shore of Lake Como, could pull off a surprise and develop into something more concrete. In other words, it could abandon its original status as an ephemeral prototype to take shape as a limited series product. The man who let slip what seems to be something more than a simple indiscretion was Adrian van Hooydonk himself. As head of the BMW Group’s Design at the Munich factory since 2009, van Hooydonk is the person responsible for the brand’s stylistic lines over the past 15 years. Referring to the aesthetics of the Concept Skytop, he spoke of the “exotic” design, adding that the car “offers a combination of driving dynamics and
top-level elegance, comparable to its illustrious forebears like the BMW Z8 or BMW 503”. The Z8 is the iconic roadster produced by the brand in the early 2000s, the cult vehicle driven by Pierce Brosnan as 007 in the film The World Is Not Enough, while 503 is one of BMW’s most luxurious 2+2 GT models, produced as a coupé or convertible in the second half of the 1950s. Class and athleticism, distinction and dynamism. Structurally, the BMW Concept Skytop draws inspiration from the 8 Series convertible and this suggests that, like the Series 8, it could conceal an eight-cylinder engine under the hood putting out well above 600 Hp.
But the prospect of its commercialisation, which would include a significant artisanal content, kindles expectations of a high degree of personalisation. Meanwhile, there are plenty of creative touches to enjoy - the most striking examples are the muscular ribs and
Above and to side, sketches by the BMW Group Design led by Adrian
Opposite page, the side/rear view shows the muscular flanks and absence of door handles
van Hooydonk.
“sharknose” front, whose lines blend into the bonnet and flow towards the windscreen, gaining prominence once again behind the small retractable rear window.
Other eye-catching features are the front and rear LED lights, the slimmest ever used by the Bavarian brand, and the small “winglets” mounted on the doorsills, an aesthetic and functional choice designed
to eliminate door handles and create greater stylistic purity. True to the classic open top formula, the BMW Concept Skytop adopts a two-piece removable roof. Finished in leather, like the interiors and rollbar behind the seats, this is designed for easy stowage in the luggage compartment once it has been removed.
www.bmw.com
The choice of brogue-style leather lends the cockpit an air of elegance and class, made even more exclusive by crystal glass inserts. The two removable sections of the cover transform the car into a two-seat roadster with a clean, pure design (below) enhanced by the minimalist look of the slender headlights