BMW's latest design language has been quite divisive. People can't seem to agree that the German brand's current exterior look strategy is the right one. The new M2, the new 5 Series, the XM, the X7, the 7 Series, and even the 2 Series Active Tourer, the outlier unavailable in the US or Canada, have received mixed feedback from prospective buyers and fans of the brand. But this Concept Skytop might just make everyone happy.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has been a favorite of BMW's as of late. The automaker used the impressive event to launch amazing rides. Last year, for example, it surprised everyone with the Concept Touring Coupe.
Now, it's the Concept Skytop's turn. This is one of those vehicles that renew excitement for the Bavarian brand and show how a marvelous vision can materialize into a breathtaking work of art on wheels.
If you've already glanced at the photos, then you might have recognized the 8 Series Cabriolet DNA and the Z8 hints. The Concept Skytop is a roadster that blends a sporty appearance with elegance and a BMW-specific stance. It's a modern take on what the BMW convertible of the future could look like.
Dare we say it? Maybe it's even a preview of something that could come soon thanks to Alpina being part of the BMW Group.
But there's no time to speculate. So, what do we have here?
Photo: BMW
This is a two-seater V8-powered roadster that can easily transform into a posh grand tourer. Its twin-turbo 4.4-liter mechanical beating heart, codenamed S68, should put out 631 hp. BMW doesn't give us an exact figure but says that the Concept Skytop hides the brand's most powerful V8 engine yet. That powerplant is found in the XB7, hence the Alpina connection.
BMW says this vehicle is meant to incite unsettledness. Look at it, and you'll get a deep urge to drive to places you never even thought of. The massive, sweeping hood, the shark-nose front end with the illuminated kidney grille (that's proportional to the vehicle body and features horizontal slats), and the somewhat minimized rear end create an almost organic body for a biological machine that looks like it has been shaped naturally by a delicate yet strong wind over hundreds of years.
Even headlamps seem to have evolved to offer maximum brightness with minimum impact on the body. They're very slim but also very capable.
That magnificent silhouette and the Z8 hints exist in harmony with the interior, which uses plenty of crystal glass and features brogue-style reddish-brown leather surfaces. The cabin design reminds us of the 8 Series, mostly because of the iDrive 7 infotainment system, the old shifter, the center console design, and the many physical buttons.
Photo: BMW
The removable roof is made of two parts and finished in leather. It can be stored in a dedicated compartment in the trunk.
The color scheme and the elegant, expansive shape also remind us of the second Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, created for an unnamed customer and shown to the world at the 2022 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. If we were to speculate once more for a little bit, we could say that the Concept Skytop seems to be the sportier, more affordable version of that massively impressive land yacht.
Some rumors also said that BMW would discontinue the 8 Series lineup in 2026, but that doesn't seem like what the brand has in mind right now. The next-gen 8 Series should be in production until 2033.
However, if Alpina has until 2026 to play around with the existing platform and manages to come up with something that looks like the Concept Skytop in around two years… Well, it will give affluent customers the chance to buy a revamped open-top, fun, luxurious, and non-electrified car. At the same time, it will incentivize them to spend big.
It remains to be seen what will come of this concept. What's certain is that it looks amazing. It truly feels like an evolved, perfected BMW. The M6 (M635CSi in Europe) is surely all smiles.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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