The BMW Group unveiled the BMW Concept 8 Series at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The new BMW 8 Series Coupe is slated to launch in 2018 after almost 20 years out of production. BMW is hoping to increase sales in the luxury class and the 8 Series should play an important part in achieving that goal.
In its press release Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG stated that, “The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW. The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”
The BMW Concept 8 Series provides a window into the furture. “The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.”
The 8 Series Concept boasts styled character lines, pronounced flaring wheel arches that house 21 inch alloy wheels. The front end has the traditional kidney grille but in the 8 Series Concept it is noticeably larger and in your face. The headlights are squinting and give the impression they want to know “What you lookin’ at?” Below the lights are massive side air intakes that amplify the car’s sporty and wide stance.
The previous 8 Series vehicles came with both V8 and V12 engines. There have not been any specifications released about the technical aspects of the new 8 Series Coupe. It is likely BMW could use some form of the 6.6 liter V-12 engine found in the 2017 M760Li. In that vehicle the engine makes 610 hp. That is more than enough to make the 8 series a strong competitor for it’s closest rival, the Mercedes Benz S class coupe. In comparison, the top of the line S65 AMG makes 621 hp and cost north of $235,000. However, turbocharged V-8 and I-6 options seem more plausible. The inclusion of hybrid technology and BMW’s xDrive all wheel drive system are also likely inclusions. Expect that 8 Series Coupe’s starting price to be just north of $100,000. BMW stopped sale of the 6 series coupe this year so the 8 series will come in time to fill the large coupe void.
Just in case the normal 8 Series Coupe seems too tame for you, BMW has also confirmed their intentions of producing an M version to be properly named M8. While there have been no photos released of the M8 without swirling camouflage, BMW assures us that it will look great. They plan to debut the racing version, dubbed M8 GTE, when BMW Motorsport makes it’s return to Le Mans in January 2018.
