BMW's Skytop prototype has been spotted testing, and it's exactly what you'd expect when Munich decides to build a half-million-dollar targa-topped roadster for 50 lucky oligarchs.
The production version follows BMW's May 2024 concept unveiling at Villa d'Este, where the Germans showed what happens when nostalgia meets a blank check.
Heritage With Horsepower
BMW isn't being subtle about the Skytop's lineage. The sharknose front end and flowing lines pay direct homage to the legendary 507 and Z8 roadsters, but with a modern twist that'll either delight or enrage the purists.
Under that long hood sits the familiar S63 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 from the M8. It delivers 617 horsepower through an 8-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive.
The performance numbers reflect the mechanical pedigree: 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds. Quick, but expected when you're essentially driving a rebodied M8 Convertible.
Craftsmanship Gone Wild
BMW didn't just slap some new panels on an 8 Series and call it a day. The Skytop features:
- Hand-painted chrome gradient trim applied by master painters
- Leather-wrapped removable targa roof panels
- Crystal inlays throughout the cockpit
- Brogue-style stitching on the leather interior
- Leather-trimmed roll bar
The LED headlights are the narrowest in BMW's current lineup, custom-designed specifically for this limited run.
Exclusivity Has Its Price
BMW will build exactly 50 examples, each commanding approximately $500,000 before the inevitable dealer markups and auction premiums.
That's the price of admission for BMW's most exclusive modern roadster.
The Skytop represents BMW's attempt to create an instant collectible – something increasingly rare in an industry obsessed with electrification and autonomy.
Whether it succeeds depends entirely on if those 50 buyers actually drive the thing or simply vacuum-seal it as an investment piece.
Either way, the Skytop stands as a rolling testament to what BMW can build when it stops worrying about mass-market appeal and focuses on pure automotive theater.
