Yahoo Autos The Elegant BMW Skytop Concept Is Going into Production
BMW announced that it will build a limited run of the Skytop concept shown earlier this year.
The Skytop reaches production unchanged and harnesses 617 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-8.
BMW is only building 50 examples, and they all have already been reserved.
Earlier this year at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza, BMW revealed the Skytop, a striking two-seater based on the M8 Competition convertible. The car looked ready for production, with BMW hinting that it could be built in limited quantities and even letting Car and Driver take a quick spin. Now, BMW has confirmed that the Skytop will reach production, with a short run of just 50 units planned.
The concept's design will hit the road virtually unchanged. The pointy front end is accentuated by thin LED headlights, while sharp creases streak along the side of the body. The targa-style roof is supported by a leather-wrapped rollover bar, and the two roof panels, also trimmed in leather, are removed by hand and stored in the luggage compartment.
The hand-painted Floating Sundown Silver color from the concept also carries over to production, and it seems it will be the only hue offered for the limited-run vehicle. The Skytop also sets itself apart with a spine that runs down the hood and reappears on the rear deck lid as an aluminum bar. Instead of traditional door handles, the doors are opened via small winglets that extend upward from the silver window trim.
The interior, meanwhile, is coated in rich brown leather. The gear selector gets an elegant crystal appearance, and the cabin is fitted with a Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. Under the hood lies a 617-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 that routes power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW says the Skytop will zoom from zero to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds.
BMW says that the Skytop is already sold out. There's no official word on how much it will cost the lucky 50 drivers who have already reserved one, but when the concept was shown in May, the rumored price was a lofty $542,000.
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