Most automobile concept designs rarely make it to production, but the new BMW 8 Series Coupe is an exception. The premium model is slated to launch this fall.
According to industry experts, it marks the return of the iconic model to the United States after 20 years. Production of the Coupe is handled by the engineers at the brand's Dingolfing plant in Germany, where the 7 series sedan is being manufactured.
Meanwhile, sources point out that the higher number it holds denotes its rank and status among the company's catalog.
Variants Of BMW 8 Series Coupe
Two variants will be available upon launch, namely the M850i xDrive Coupe M Performance and 840d xDrive Coupe. To enlighten consumers more about its development history, the new vehicle borrows most of its elements from the BMW M8 GTE, developed alongside the former.
The latter flaunts its participation in the 2018 FIA World Endurance Championship and 2018 IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship as notable credentials for its performance.
German Engineering And Performance
BMW confirms that the two 8 Series Coupe models with have their engines mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Currently, there is no word of a manual transmission model in the works. The M850i xDrive Coupe M Performance comes with a V8 4.4-liter twin turbo rated at 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque.
Performance tests reveal that the Coupe can go from 0 to 60 mph within 3.6 seconds. Although the top speed is only listed as 155 mph, consumers should know that it is just electronically limited. Sources claim it can go even faster, but It has yet to be confirmed why the engineers configured the limitation.
In the meantime, the 840d xDrive Coupe variant sports a V6 diesel engine. The rest of its details on its specifications will probably become available at a later time.
Design, Materials, and Features
As BMW claims the number 8 defines its rank among the other available models, owners can expect a luxury-tier design with premium materials. A mix of aluminum and steel makes up most of its construction with a few parts in carbon fiber and magnesium.
If they want, buyers can order a carbon fiber replacement for its double-bubble roof. Overall, the vehicle clocks in at 4,478 pounds, which is heavier In comparison to the 4247 pounds of the 650i xDrive.
Buyers can expect a futuristic cockpit mostly adorned by leather and angular instrument panels. To add versatility to the 8 Series Coupe, owners can assign their compatible NFC-enabled smartphones as a digital key. Once enabled, the handset will function as an alternate key that can lock or unlock the car, and even start the engine.
