In these current uncertain times, there’s seems to be a sense of uncertainty among car makers globally. One company is building a huge new electric vehicle (EV) facility while another is stating quite categorically that the internal combustion engine is here to stay for a while yet. Meanwhile, we, the buying public, wait with bated breath. Fortunately there is still some life in the industry: German premium car manufacturer BMW is poised to set pulses racing among fans of exclusive driving pleasure and collectors of automotive masterpieces once again with a strictly limited-run small-series model.
The Looks
The BMW Skytop encompasses that joy of driving for which the brand is renowned, wrapped in a timelessly elegant design and characterised by precision craftsmanship right down to every last detail. It’s a two-seat roadster that was designed solely as a concept but such was the clamour for the real thing that the brand have now decided to produce a run of 50 units: For now.
The open-top two-seater celebrates BMW’s history of iconic roadsters, among them the BMW 507 and BMW Z8. The sculptural athleticism of its body is constructed from taut, muscular surfaces defined by a few precise lines, the Skytop emitting a powerful sense of dynamism before it even turns a wheel. The pronounced arrow shape of the bonnet, evocative BMW shark-nose design and tightening tail are all carefully chosen references to the BMW Z8 and then of course there’s the familiar kidney grille.
The exclusivity of this unique slice of automotive craftsmanship is also reflected in its timelessly elegant appearance. Headlining the exterior design is the pronounced spline that extends from the bonnet to an aluminium bar on the boot lid, emphasising the dynamic flow of the special edition’s form. Winglets discreetly integrated into the door shoulders take the place of conventional door handles and, together with the light-alloy wheels, with their intricate fins between the spokes, feed into the car’s clean, graceful appearance. The illuminated grille and the headlights also play their part in the progressive look of the front end. The LED units are positioned on aluminium carriers and have the slimmest profile currently available for automotive headlights. They were custom developed for the Skytop and group together all the now-expected lighting functions. The rear lights likewise have an arrestingly slim design and carry the progressive design theme of the BMW Skytop into the rear end.
Like the leather-covered rollover bar behind the seats, the fully retractable rear window and leather-trimmed soft-top roof generate a pure-bred roadster feeling. The two removable roof sections, which are finished with high-quality synthetic leather, stow away in a special compartment in the luggage area.
The harmonious colour scheme ensures a smooth visual transition from interior to exterior, both with the soft-top open and closed. At the rear of the car, the reddish-brown of the roof flows into the Floating Sundown Silver exterior paint finish, whose chrome shadow effect gives it impressive visual impact. The elaborate colour gradient is applied by hand by experienced master painters.
On The Inside
Inside this prestige BMW sports car there’s a very tasteful blend of precision craftsmanship, hand-picked materials and warm, monochrome colour tones create a feel of cosseting luxury and singular elegance. In common with other elements of the interior design, the leather seats, accented by brogue-style decoration, come in the same shade of rustic brown used for the roof. Crystal applications embedded ornately into the cockpit also contribute to the sumptuous on-board ambience.
The exclusive character of the BMW Skytop is additionally underscored by high-quality equipment features such as a soft-close function for the doors and the stunning Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, which projects driving and navigation information directly into the driver’s field of view.
The Power
Just like its legendary roadster ancestor, the BMW Skytop takes to the road with the most powerful V8 in the brand’s current armoury. The 4.4 litre petrol unit generates maximum output of 616bhp (625PS) and teams up with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Maximising traction is the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system, which distributes the engine’s power between all four wheels as required, and optimises stability and driving dynamics in any situation. With this drive configuration in place, this handsome thoroughbred two-door will sprint from 0 to 62mph (100kph) in a speedy 3.3 seconds.
MHH International & BMW
BMW is a car maker that offers a wide range of vehicles for all tastes and purposes. Okay, the Skytop is a limited edition sports car that showcases how far this prestige brand has come. Certainly their cars are very popular with our clients who enjoy our bespoke export service from the UK to many global destinations including New Zealand, Ireland and Kenya. You can see our current stock here.
It’s worth noting that some purchases can be VAT-free; something that constitutes a big saving. Find out more about this here and browse our website for full details.
