BMW 8‑Series teased – a rarified Bavarian legend returns

Munich’s reborn flagship coupe is in line for an unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, before sales begin in 2018. We will, however, get a good look at it before then with the reveal of a concept version at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 26^th.

It should be quite a looker, too, if BMW’s teaser image shown here is any guide. Almost Aston Martin-like, the new car promises to cut a sportily imposing figure through the ranks of the luxury super coupes, with No1 target likely to be the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe.

There’s no confirmation yet of the range or prices but BMW certainly has the 600bhp V12 firepower available to keep the top Merc-AMG coupe honest in the £150,000 area of the two-door market.

That the new BMW 8-Series is well on its way into the showrooms can be seen from this video clip from the Nordschleife where a disguised prototype has been undergoing performance testing. 

For BMW chief Harald Krüger the new Eight will “add a genuine dream car to our line-up… a true luxury sports coupe that will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment.” The BMW AG chairman confirmed the long-awaited and much-rumoured new car’s existence at the company’s annual meeting on May 11^th.

Like the 1989-launched 8-Series – itself a bit of a technology leader – the new version is sure to make the most of the hi-tech electronics and construction of the latest 7-Series. Carbon-core construction should help what was one of the previous 8-Series’ less than impressive strengths, its high weight.

The new Eight will still be a big beast with passenger room and large boot – a big step up on the 6-Series in every way, just as the original model aimed to be. Judging from the teaser image, there’s a good chance the all-round fully retracting windows and pillarless design that distinguished the original will make it to the new version.

What will the badge on the back say? 860 has to be a contender, mirroring the latest V12-powered 760 saloon flagship. As with the first-gen Eight, which was produced between 1989-99, V8 engine options are also likely to be available, maybe with the 7-Series hybrid e drivetrain. Also on the cars has to be a cabriolet version. That, along with an M8, was considered for the original 8-Series but never made production. 

Despite its advanced nature and big performance, the original Eight never cut it in its day as a driver’s favourite, and was too large and heavy for track work, ruling out the motorsport heritage that was part and parcel of the 6-Series coupe’s appeal. BMW’s answer for the new model is a car that embodies “uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury” and is the essence of a modern BMW coupe.

Never too late for Eight? We say bring it on…

14 claims to fame of the original 8-Series 

1. First road car to offer a V12 engine and manual six-speed gearbox
2. Wedge body with long bonnet and retractable lights boasted impressive Cd of 0.29
3. First car to feature multiplex wiring (now on all cars)
4. Along with the BMW Z1, first BMW to get Z multilink rear axle
5. Seat belts built into the seats
6. First car with auto dipping rear mirror
7. One of first cars with drive-by-wire accelerator
8. One of the first coupes with windows that opened a little when you opened or closed a door
9. Fastest CSi model got 5.6-litre V12 with 378bhp and peak torque of 406 lb ft
10. 850i weighed in at 1790kg and did 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds
11. 840 Ci in 1993 had 4.0-litre V8 with 284bhp
12. Automatic Stability Control, speed-sensitive power steering and Electronic Damper Control were options from 1990
13. 30,621 8-Series were produced up to 1999, more than two-thirds with 12-cylinder engines

One of the most famous 8-Series cars is the “transparent” BMW Art Car by David Hockney – complete with Hockney’s dachshund Stanley as passenger.