In Spain we drove the two launch engines: the £76,270, 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder diesel producing 320PS (316bhp) and 680Nm (501lb ft) is badged as an 840d, while the petrol option, a 4.4-litre V8 (lifted and slightly detuned from the M5) with 530PS (523bhp) and 750Nm (553lb ft), receives a cursory prefixed ‘M’ badge as the M850i and will fetch £99,525 on the road.
Mindful of its price, the Eight comes well kitted-out as standard, with BMW’s latest operating system – it can be updated over the air – and BMW’s version of a completely digital dash, which blends the Sat-Nav visuals seamlessly into the dials. BMW’s excellent head-up display is also standard along with LED headlights, a fully leather trim, automatic boot-lid operation for the surprisingly capacious 420-litre luggage space, eight-speed auto gearbox, 20” alloys, adaptive suspension, BMW’s natty smartphone-style Display Key, climate control, DAB radio, Sat-Nav, wireless charging and a host of “M” badges – M Sport is the standard spec on for the Eight. Part with some more cash for the M850i and you’ll add the M Sport differential, sport exhaust and some extra sporty colour options.
Of the engines the petrol is the pick, full of beans and able to pull the 1,900kg Eight to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds. It provides the sort of spark that will set the Eight apart from the competition. While the diesel wallops out plenty of torque, it's a little slow to react low down, and leaves you waiting for a reaction when you try to get out of trouble. The petrol motor on the other hand reacts well, especially for a turbo unit, able to pull in all gears without too much of a pause.
Behind the wheel the Eight is a little bit of a compromise, but that's not necessarily a bad thing: the 8-Series, after all, plays in niche of luxury performance coupe. There’s elements of trying to conquer every possibility; is it a motorway muncher, eating up the miles as a proper Grand Tourer when the owner flies across Europe? Or is it actually a sports car, ready for an M badge across its rear? It does both with ease, and will happily munch up mile after mile at the speed limit without breaking any kind of sweat. But the push to be a bit of a performance car has led to a small compromise on ride. Then Eight can be firm, communicating each bump to the driver and jarring occupants over the bigger humps, which is probably because the Eight is sprung with steel rather than air – in an effort to chase performance. But with steering that’s light and damping that gathers up those bumps, it’s not enough to put you off. It’s also whisper-quiet in the cabin, although we could probably do without the rather fake noise the diesel makes in Sport mode.