Since 2009, the almost century-old event has been jointly presented and organised by the BMW Group and Villa d’Este, and it is also here that the former has chosen to introduce to the world its latest concept car, the Skytop.
A NOD TO THE LEGENDARY Z8
And what an intriguing juxtaposition it was, set between the exceedingly charming backdrop of timeless luxury and an imagined future – a rather fitting environment, after all, considering the car itself personifies a blend of both classic and modern sensibilities.
References to BMW’s legendary Z8 abound in this one-of-a-kind concept car, co-opted with restraint, according to Christopher Weil, BMW’s head of exterior design.
“There is a lot of relationship with the Z8 without overdoing it, like designing it literally like the Z8,” said Weil in an interview with CNA Luxury at Villa d’Este.
Fewer than 6,000 units of the BMW Z8 two-door roadster were ever produced between 1998 and 2003, making it a rare and almost mythical model that quickly became a modern classic beloved by enthusiasts.
The Z8 also has its place in pop culture history, appearing in the 1999 edition of the James Bond franchise, The World Is Not Enough, and during the festival, guests had the opportunity to feast on one of these historic Z8s on display.
“We wanted to create something very special and the ideation process began with wanting to do a very elegant sports car with this boat tail shape,” Weil explained.
“As we are always looking into our history, we naturally let ourselves be inspired by the Z8 without taking it too literally; it’s not the same car and it shouldn’t be,” he added.
