Unexpected Success of the Concept
When BMW presented the Skytop concept in 2024, few expected further developments. The brand soon confirmed a limited release, and before anyone knew it, all 50 planned units were already sold out.
Cost and First Deliveries
This was a real surprise, considering that the car, which uses the base of a standard M8 Competition, cost over 500,000 euros. Deliveries to customers have now begun.
The first unit was recently handed over to Italian racing driver Andrea Levy at BMW Welt in Germany, and the new owner shared a short video of the handover on social media.
Design Features
Levy’s car looks almost identical to the original Skytop presented at Villa d’Este in Italy, and will join his already large car collection, which includes several Ferraris, Lamborghinis, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and a Dallara Stradale, among others.
View this post on Instagram. A post by Andrea Levy (@andrealevy_777)
Although the Skytop has familiar BMW components, it has a completely unique exterior. The most important update is the Targa-style open cockpit with two removable roof panels upholstered in leather.
Like the original show car, Levy’s car is painted in a silvery shade and sits on impressive wheels with a complex spoke design.
Interior and Technical Specifications
The interior is familiar from the 8 Series, although Levy’s car was upholstered in a luxurious new brown-red leather, which certainly makes it more premium, although we are not sure if it justifies the half-million euro price.
It is somewhat disappointing that BMW made no changes to the engine borrowed from the M8. Thus, the 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 continues to produce the standard 617 hp and retains the standard eight-speed Steptronic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive.
BMW claims the car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds, which is certainly not slow, although we suspect that most Skytops will spend most of their time in exclusive collections and will rarely be used for driving.
BMW’s Future Plans
Approximately a year after the Skytop, BMW presented a shooting brake-style variant called the Speedtop, which is also intended for a limited production run of 70 units.
Interestingly, BMW continues to experiment with limited series that combine familiar technical bases with unique design. This strategy allows the brand to meet collector demand without developing entirely new platforms, which can be economically beneficial. However, the question of whether the design and exclusivity justify such a high cost remains open for discussion among car enthusiasts.