BMW puts a high price on good design

The BMW Skytop concept had tongues wagging after its recent reveal, and now word out of Germany is that the striking two-seat, targa-top roadster could enter production as soon as next year and wear a steep price tag.

BMW Blog reports the opulent, M8 Convertible-based Skytop has generated enough interest since its unveiling to receive a limited production run.

BMW could reportedly make upwards of 50 examples of the Skytop, each with an asking price of over €500,000 (A$816,000).

For reference, a fully optioned M8 Coupe will set you back just over A$440,000 drive-away.

While a positive reception has given the Skytop a chance at cruising public roads in the years to come, BMW has previously teased enthusiasts with attention-grabbing concepts that have ultimately never seen the light of day.

One example of this is the Concept Touring Coupe, a Z4-based shooting brake design which wowed crowds at last year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Despite BMW teasing a limited production run, the project was quickly scrapped.

That’s not to say the Skytop speculation is without legs.

After all, the German manufacturer produced 50 units of the 3.0 CSL, an M4-based halo car revealed in 2022 featuring a distinctive look, manual transmission and performance upgrades.

That car cost roughly A$1,000,000 a pop, paving the way for BMW to sell the Skytop for similar money although the cars are distinctly different in purpose.

The Skytop concept shown off in Italy presented with bespoke bodywork including a palatable kidney grille and smooth lines continue all the way to the rear with a gentle ducktail spoiler.

Inside there are only two seats, sitting below a targa top roof and in front of a retractable rear window, and the show car’s interior is finished in dark red leather.

M8 Competition Cabriolet underpinnings suggest a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine under the bonnet.

In the M8, this produces 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque, driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

MORE: BMW’s stunning Skytop concept could become a reality