A four-door sports car has been added to the new BMW 8 Series range. With its standalone body concept, plus powertrain and chassis technology designed squarely to engender supreme dynamic ability, the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe embodies a brand of sporting flair unique in the luxury segment. Joining the BMW 8 Series Coupe and BMW 8 Series Convertible as the third model in the 8 Series range, the Gran Coupe has a character all of its own, combining smile-inducing performance and design shaped by dynamism and elegance with significantly increased spaciousness for passengers in the rear seats. Meanwhile, exclusive equipment features and the latest innovations in the areas of control/operation, driver assistance and connectivity represent a case study in modern luxury.
The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the only model in its segment derived directly from a two-door sports car. Its resultant dynamic potential, plus a longer wheelbase and model-specific chassis tuning, create an unmistakable balance between sports performance and ride comfort. All of which means 8 Series Gran Coupe customers can look forward to high levels of everyday practicality and mile-covering ability. Three model variants are available from launch. The BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 10.0 – 9.9 l/100 km [28.2 – 28.5 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 229 – 226 g/km*) is powered by a V8 petrol engine which delivers its 390 kW/530 hp in imposing style. And the BMW 840i Gran Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 7.5 – 7.4 l/100 km [37.7 – 38.2 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 170 – 168 g/km*) and BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 7.8 – 7.7 l/100 km [36.2 – 36.7 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 179 – 176 g/km*) enjoy the services of a high-revving six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with maximum output of 250 kW/340 hp.
The world premiere of the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe will be one of the highlights of the inaugural BMW Group #NEXTGen event in Munich.
The worldwide launch of the new car will commence just a few months later, in September 2019.
Exterior design: sporting exclusivity, individual appeal.
The combination of precisely drawn lines and expansive surfaces that runs like a thread through the BMW brand’s new design language helps the exterior of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe to strike a unique balance between dynamism and elegance. The four-door coupe concept has been translated into a body of standout pomp and progressiveness. The four-door model has a 3,023-millimetre wheelbase – an increase of 201 millimetres over the BMW 8 Series Coupe – and measures 5,082 millimetres in
length (+ 231 mm), 1,932 millimetres in width (+ 30 mm) and 1,407 millimetres in height (+ 61 mm). The Gran Coupe’s front section is identical to the 8 Series Coupe’s design up to the point where the A-pillars start. The wide, low-slung front end exudes sporting intent and a confident presence. Adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard. The optional BMW Laserlight with Selective Beam produces a high-beam range of around 600 metres.
As well as its distinctive proportions, the design of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe’s flanks and rear end also clearly distinguishes it from its 8 Series stablemates. Because the windscreen frame is more upright, the roofline is also higher, meaning additional headroom in both the front and rear. The roofline merges into the tail in a graceful sweep, via a fin-shaped transition in the vicinity of the C-pillars that emphasises the elongated silhouette. The rear window, meanwhile, also follows a slightly steeper line in order to produce a larger boot aperture. An additional character line accentuates the sweeping elegance of the body and powerfully flared surfaces integrate pronounced shoulders into the overall effect. The side window graphic reaches its conclusion at the rear in another hallmark BMW design cue. On the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, the counter-swing at the trailing edge of the side window graphic – the Hofmeister kink – is very upright in form, further emphasising the solidity of this area of the body.
The powerfully flared wheel arches and wide track also play a defining role in the form of the rear end. Horizontal lines and sculptural surface contours give the tail a broad but also light appearance. The slim all-LED rear light clusters extend deep into the flanks. And twin exhaust tailpipes with a trapezoidal contour are positioned either side of the rear apron’s lower section.
Interior: dynamism and luxury in perfect harmony.
The distinctive style of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is also expressed in the design of its interior. The driving experience in both the front and rear is defined by a flawless symbiosis of dynamism and luxury. The extra length of the wheelbase and generously sized door apertures give passengers in the rear unprecedented legroom for a BMW coupe – and they are able to get in and out more easily than ever as well. Those in the rear seats also benefit from substantially greater shoulder room and headroom than in the two-door version of the new BMW 8 Series, making the second-row seats even more comfortable to travel in.
The optional panoramic glass roof helps to give the interior of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe an exceptionally light-filled feel. It is particularly generous in width and its glass surface area measures around 1.5 square metres. The result is an unbroken glass surface extending from the windscreen to the rear window. The front section of the roof and the interior blinds open and close at the touch of a button or with the radio remote control, delivering a controlled supply of fresh air. The rear blind can also
be opened and closed from the rear compartment. A four-zone automatic climate control system and electric sun blinds for the rear side windows and rear window are both available exclusively for the four-door variant in the new BMW 8 Series line-up.
Sports-car ambience in all seats.
The ambient lighting fitted as standard in the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe accentuates the forward-pointing lines inside the car to dramatic effect.
Standard specification for the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe also includes an instrument panel and door shoulders wrapped in fulled leather, electrically operated sports seats with head restraints integrated stylistically into the seat backrests, and Vernasca leather trim. The multifunction seats fitted as standard in the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe come in Merino leather trim with extended appointments. Another option available for the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and in cars with the M Sport package are the new M Sport seats with highly distinctive bucket-seat styling.
The extended centre console is exclusive to the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe model, as is the rear seat unit featuring outer seats styled as individual seats. The contours and seam patterns of the outer rear seats are modelled on the sports seats in the front. The rear seats likewise offer excellent lateral support and integral head restraints, allowing their occupants to also share in that undiluted sports-car feel. A third seat for use on short journeys nestles between the two outer seats and has a complete seatbelt system, making the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe a 4+1-seater.
The car’s luggage-carrying setup can be varied with the greatest of ease courtesy of the 40 : 20 : 40 split/folding rear backrest, whose individual sections can be folded down from the boot using a lever. With a capacity of 440 litres, the boot is big enough to accommodate three golf bags.
Optimised aerodynamics, minimised weight.
The aerodynamic properties of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe have been honed by features including an almost completely sealed underbody, active air flap control, Air Curtains and the super-slender exterior mirror bases. An intelligent material mix, meanwhile, has helped to reconcile exacting demands on body rigidity with the goal of minimising weight. As well as the doors and the outer skin of the roof, the bonnet, front shear panel, engine subframe, front bulkhead and rear bumper support are all made from aluminium. The plastic boot lid, the magnesium cockpit support and the use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the centre tunnel help to both reduce weight and distribute it to optimum effect. As a result, the four-door version’s weight penalty over the BMW 8 Series Coupe has been limited to around 70 kilograms. Fitting the optional carbon-fibre roof lowers the car’s centre of gravity even further and there is also the option of an M Carbon exterior package comprising air intake bars, exterior mirror caps and a rear diffuser insert all made from CFRP.
Characterful V8 petrol engine, majestic straight-six units.
The imposing power delivery of the 4.4-litre V8 engine in the new BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is accompanied by a character-rich soundtrack further amplified by the M
Sport exhaust system. With its maximum output of 390 kW/530 hp and peak torque of 750 Nm (553 lb-ft), the new V8 engine in the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds.
Thrilling instant response and an unmistakable appetite for revs are the signature character traits of the new six-cylinder in-line petrol engine fitted in the BMW 840i Gran Coupe and BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe models. It produces maximum output of 250 kW/340 hp and torque peaking at 500 Nm (369 lb-ft). The 3.0-litre unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology weighs in at around six kilograms less than the engine it replaces and makes its mark with noticeably enhanced elasticity throughout the rev range.
These are both key factors in the cars’ agile, fleet-footed handling.
The new BMW 840i Gran Coupe powers from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds, the new BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe in 4.9 seconds.
Eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, BMW xDrive, M Sport differential.
All of the engines available for the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe meet the Euro 6d-TEMP standard. They link up with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, which comes with shift paddles on the steering wheel as standard so the driver can also change gears manually. The latest generation of BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive ensures that drive power is channelled onto the road with supreme dynamism and assurance. The system’s rear-wheel-biased setup provides exceptional agility and precision in dynamic handling situations. The BMW 840i Gran Coupe sees the power generated by its six-cylinder in-line petrol engine sent to the rear wheels alone. The BMW 840i Gran Coupe’s standard M Sport differential with active locking function at the rear axle adds an extra layer to the sense of BMW driving pleasure in its classical form. The M Sport differential is also part of specification on the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe.
Chassis: unique repertoire of skills, from dynamic handling to long- distance comfort.
The exceptional agility, precision and performance of the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe’s chassis are the product of the design principles underpinning it and a setup optimised using the racing expertise of BMW M GmbH. The Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 201 millimetres longer than its Coupe sibling’s. This enhances ride comfort by enabling the chassis tuning to be modified without compromising its sporting instincts.
All the standard and optional suspension systems – along with the basic chassis components – have been tuned precisely to the fundamental characteristics of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe defined by its dimensions and weight distribution. This has enabled the extraordinary performance qualities of the BMW 8 Series Coupe to be passed on to its four-door sibling. Standard specification includes Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers. Finely metered spring and damping
responses ensure the driver is supplied with only relevant information about the road surface. The Integral Active Steering fitted as standard in the all- wheel-drive model variants and as an option for the new BMW 840i Gran Coupe makes even lighter work of manoeuvring, increases agility at moderate speeds and allows drivers to negotiate lane changes and high-speed corners with still greater poise and assurance. The active roll stabilisation feature included in the optional Adaptive M suspension Professional initiates particularly fast and precise body roll compensation when the driver explores the car’s dynamic potential. Its electric swivel motors also counteract disruptive forces resulting from road surface imperfections on one side of the car, increasing straightline comfort.
The braking systems available for the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe stand out with their immense stopping power, high thermal stability, fast responses and excellent feel. All versions combine four-piston, fixed-calliper brakes at the front and single-piston, floating-calliper brakes at the rear. Standard equipment for the new BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe includes powerful M Sport brakes, which are also part of the M Technic Sport Package available for the other model variants.
Setting the seal on the performance-focused chassis technology in the new BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe are 20-inch M light-alloy wheels, which are shod with high-performance tyres (front: 245/35 R20, rear: 275/30 R20) purpose-developed for the BMW 8 Series. The other models in the 8 Series Gran Coupe range also leave the factory on mixed-size tyres, with standard equipment including 18-inch light-alloy wheels.
Cutting-edge driver assistance systems further improve comfort and safety.
An array of cutting-edge driver assistance systems take the comfort and safety of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe to another level. Standard specification includes the Head-Up Display, the Driving Assistant, Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change Warning, Speed Limit Info, rear crossing traffic warning and rear collision warning. Among the systems on the options list are Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Driving Assistant Professional (which also brings steering and lane control assistant, among other tech), and the BMW Night Vision system. Among the features of the likewise standard Parking Assistant are the rear-view camera and the reversing assistant.
Intuitive operation and seamless connectivity: BMW Operating System 7.0 and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe comes as standard with BMW Live Cockpit Professional. It comprises a navigation and multimedia system, plus a fully digital, high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches and a Control Display measuring10.25 inches across. The new BMW Operating System 7.0 stands out with modern, digital functions geared precisely to the needs of the driver. For intuitive operation, the driver can choose from the Control Display’s
touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, the steering wheel buttons, voice control and gesture control.
The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant has a key role to play in the operating system. The digital companion can be activated with the spoken prompt “Hey BMW” and helps the driver to use vehicle functions. What is more, he will keep acquiring new skills all the time thanks to updates transmitted seamlessly by Remote Software Upgrade. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant can also be used to select the three Experience Modes for the interior. These can be activated for as long as desired and adapt the functions of the interior lights, climate control system, degree of shade, seat heating / seat ventilation and music (depending on vehicle specification) perfectly
to the driver’s needs.