BMW 8 SERIES CONCEPT
The BMW Concept 8 Series brings to life what BMW icons stand for ever since: it combines the agility of a sports car with the style of a gentleman. Concentrated power meets modern luxury. And perfect dynamics meet timeless elegance.
The silhouette of the BMW Concept 8 Series sits low on the road. Precise contours and exciting, muscular surfaces promise a dynamic driving experience from the very first glance. The kidney grille flares out as it descends to emphasise the vehicle’s low centre of gravity while the headlights stare resolutely onto the road. This forward thrust continues inside the vehicle, with every surface and line of the interior surging in the direction of travel. This dynamic design finds its elegant counterpart in the exquisite materials that finish the exclusive ambience.
BMW says the performance-orientated M8 and track-going M8 GTE are also being developed alongside the new 8-series, with the latter having made its racing debut at the 24 hours of Daytona race in January 2018. We expect the new 8-series range to be launched in late 2018, with UK sales due to start in November or December confirmed, and probably sales in South Africa shortly thereafter. It’s too early for prices, but a starting cost of around R1 100 000 seems likely. The jump in number reflects a wider change to this car’s remit.
The concept of the big luxo-GTs will be tweaked to turn these into more sporting, agile four-seater grand-tourers. Previously, the 6-series was targeted at the S-class Coupe and Cabriolet twins, as well as lower-rung Maseratis and Bentleys – but, with the 8-series, BMW wants to chase more Porsche sales.
The new 8-series models will use the familiar BMW group large-car architecture, so much of the hardware is shared with the 5-series/7-series brigade, which points to a choice of rear- and xDrive all-wheel drive and a variety of six- and eight-cylinder engines in various states of tune. A V12 can be added, should the market require it.
Munich has already shown an M8 concept car in the shape of the race-liveried M8 GTE, which will be campaigned in track-spec at the 2018 Le Mans 24 hours race in the GT category. Its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 pushes out more than 500bhp. The BMW Concept 8-series, to give it its proper title, is a design study with the intended purpose of putting BMW in the right direction in the luxury car market. The brand wants to make new waves in the plush, wafty end of the industry and says the new 8-series is ‘part of the biggest model segment in the brand’s history.’