All you need to know about the new 8...
Design
Officially, the new design themes provide “clarity, modernity and emotional engagement”. And unofficially? Pretty stonking we reckon. It is certainly a very expressive design with muscular bulges and powerful stance, though all very much in the BMW mould. The jutting intake, ultra-slim LED lights and wide grille dominate the front end; the profile is unashamedly sporting coupe with a slim and tapering window line. At the back, the look is wide and low.
Construction
The body and running gear is a lightweight mix of steel, aluminium and plastics while at the car’s heart is the Carbon Core technology of the latest 7-Series with which the 8-Series shares much…including assembly in BMW’s Dingolfing plant.
Engines and performance
Two are confirmed so far: a petrol M850i with 523bhp from its twin-turbo V8, and a diesel 840d with 316bhp from its 3.0-litre inline six. The petrol unit, a reworked version of the familiar 4.4-litre V8, is the torque champion of the pair with 553lb-ft and it gets from 0-62mph in 3.7secs with a 28.3mpg fuel rating. BMW is promising a rich V8 soundtrack in the Sport+ drive mode.
The diesel is not short of pulling power with its 502lb-ft, enough to see it fly to 62mph from rest in 4.9 seconds; its fuel rating is 46.3mpg. Both petrol and diesel versions are limited to 155mph.
Running gear
Both engines use an improved version of the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and xDrive permanent all-wheel drive, with torque bias to the rear wheels. Launch control is standard as is BMW’s take on active steering – less wheel twiddling at low speeds, less nervousness at higher speeds – while active roll stabilisation is optional. As well as the claimed sportscar agility, BMW has majored on the car’s refined ride, with some of the development work having been done on typically bumpy British backroads.
Interior
It’s a two-plus-two with frameless front windows, like the original 8-Series, but not alas with that car’s opening rear windows and missing B-pillars for the classic pillarless coupe look. Up front, there are new electric memory seats separated from each other by a notably wide and high centre console. Behind are two low-set buckets for kids with and split fold-down backrests to boost the 420-litre boot when more luggage space is needed.
Gizmos and gadgets
In a word: lots. As you would expect of a sporting luxury flagship. Camera images and data gathered by ultrasonic and radar sensors monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, warn of potential hazards and minimise the risk of an accident with corrective braking or steering inputs – in other words, all the latest BMW Personal Co-Pilot systems. The car will even take action to avoid a cyclist. There’s also a standard head-up display, the remote-control Parking Assistant, loads of connectivity – with your smartphone, smart watch, Alexa-devices etc – and BMW’s latest operating system for the all-digital display and control functions. The dash is made up of a high-resolution 12.3-inch display and separate 10.25-inch control screen behind the steering wheel. You can turn the car into a mobile office using Microsoft Office 365 with Skype for Business.
How much?
The petrol M850i xDrive is £100,045 and the diesel 840d xDrive comes in at £76,270. They are available to order now in the UK with first deliveries expected November.