BMW recently unveiled the Skytop Concept at Villa d'Este, a two-seater coupe without a roof that takes cues from the company's historical models, notably the Z8 and the 503. However, the Skytop appears to be essentially an 8 Series with a targa top.

Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, described the Skytop as "a truly unique and exotic design, in the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este," combining driving dynamics and elegance akin to its predecessors, the BMW Z8 and the BMW 503.

The Skytop's design echoes the Z8 roadster with its thin taillights and sharknose front end. Its sculpted hood, small headlights, and flat-decked rear are reminiscent of the 503 from the 1950s. Despite these design nods, the Skytop's proportions and features strongly resemble an 8 Series, particularly given that it uses the 617-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 engine from the M8 Competition. It's plausible that BMW based the Skytop on the M8, altering its exterior lines.

BMW hasn't released additional technical or performance specifications, but it's likely the Skytop employs the M8 Competition's eight-speed automatic transmission and advanced all-wheel-drive system.

Inside, the Skytop continues its production-car resemblance with a dashboard setup seemingly identical to the 8 Series. It features a familiar digital gauge cluster, infotainment screen, center stack, and gear selector. Although the leather seats and steering wheel are elegant, they appear to be production-based as well.

A distinctive feature is the bespoke roll bar behind the seats, equipped with a power-retractable window. The manually removable, two-piece roof can be stowed in the trunk area.

Despite its production-based elements, it's doubtful the Skytop will reach the assembly line. BMW already offers the 8 Series coupe and convertible, and introducing a targa version might overlap too much with existing models, regardless of its striking design.