Following a long row of teasers and announcements, BMW has finally revealed its 2019 8 Series coupe. According to the CEO of the company, the BMW 8 Series comeback has been conceptualized as a symbiosis between the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Porsche 911: as fast as the latter and as comfortable as the former.
The exterior of the new 8 Series mimics the style of the namesake concept which debuted in Italy last spring. Differences include a somewhat more mundane-looking radiator grille, reshaped air intakes and larger headlights. The side mirrors and the hood cover have also been slightly altered.
The car most likely gets a 4.4-liter, V8 gasoline engine with vee-mounted dual turbochargers. The unit offers around 530 hp / 395 kW in terms of performance and consumes approximately 10 liters of gasoline per 100 km, which roughly corresponds to 28 MPG in the UK or 23.5 in the US. It also accelerates the vehicle to 100 km/h (60 mph) in 3.7 seconds and only peaks out at 250 km/h (155 mph) because the manufacturer says is should.
The engine palette also includes a 3.0-liter diesel engine rated at 320 hp. The mid-performance engine needs 4.9 seconds to get the new BMW 8 Series to the same level of acceleration, but it also comes with greater overall fuel efficiency: 6 liters per 100 km, 47 MPG-UK or 39 MPG-US. Both engines utilize the 8-speed automatic transmission.
The options list includes the BMW Laserlight lighting package (the base trim level ships with regular LED lights), leather upholstery, a hi-end audio system, a wireless charger station, the BMW Live Cockpit dashboard featuring a 10” display, an infotainment system with a 12.3” touchscreen display, and a set of driver aids and safety systems, including the cruise control and the state-of-the-art parking assist.
The first batch will reach the dealerships late this fall, with pre-orders starting sometime this summer. The entry-level BMW 8 Series model will be available at £76,000, while the top-spec version is going to exceed £100,000.
Photo: motor1.com