Currently reading: New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe makes first public appearance

New 8 Series Gran Coupé will go on sale in the UK this September with choice of straight-six and V8 engines

BMW has rounded out its new 8 Series line-up with the Gran Coupé. The new four-door 8 Series will go on sale in September after its Frankfurt motor show debut, priced from £69,340. 

The Gran Coupé joins the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible with a line-up that will comprise six-cylinder and V8 models, including the rapid new 516bhp M850i xDrive Gran Coupé. The 8 Series Gran Coupé replaces the discontinued 6 Series Gran Coupé in a growing market segment that will place it up against high-end versions of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as the Porsche Panamera

At 5082mm long, 1932mm wide and 1407mm tall, the 8 Series Gran Coupé is 239mm longer, 30mm wider and 66mm taller that its coupé sibling. 

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This added length is partly the result of a 201mm-longer wheelbase than that of the 8 Series Coupé and Convertible, at 3023mm. It allows for two extra frameless doors and rear seat space that’s on a par with its predecessor’s. 

The 8 Series Gran Coupé has a traditional boot at the rear, with a 440-litre capacity. The load length can be extended when the 40/20/40-configured rear seat is folded down. 

The engine choices for the 8 Series Gran Coupé mirror those of its siblings. 

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The entry point to the new line-up is the 840i turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol unit, which develops 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque. It can be had in rear- or four-wheel drive and the 0-62mph times are 5.2sec and 4.9sec respectively. Fuel consumption is 39.2mpg combined. 

Also available is the diesel 840d, with a 3.0-litre inline six making 316bhp and 501lb ft. The 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 5.1sec and claimed economy is 47.9mpg. 

Crowning the initial 8 Series Gran Coupé range is the M850i xDrive, which has a 523bhp turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. With a kerb weight of 1995kg, it is claimed to hit 62mph from rest in 3.9sec and return 28.8mpg combined economy. 

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All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with the 840i and M850i xDrive both featuring an M Sport rear differential. Rearwheel steering is standard on four-wheel-drive cars and optional on rear-driven models. 

Later this year, BMW’s M division will launch even more powerful M8 and M8 Competition variants of the new four-door featuring a twinturbo 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 592bhp for the M8 and 616bhp for the M8 Competition.

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BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive review​

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Blackmagic92 10 September 2019

It's lost some sparkle

The concept made it look like the gran coupe to wait for; it looked stunning. I have to say that the back now suddenly looks really odd...very 1st gen panamera. Mayb it's the spe shown in the photos that make it look dul...but I would personally go for a 2 door coupe.

MisterMR44 19 June 2019

Prefer this to the coupé...

I definitely prefer this to the coupé (and the comparable 7-series)... but I really don't like where BMW interior design is going.

spqr 19 June 2019

Come on Symanski

Tell us all how this BMW, entirely unrelated to any car you have ever owned or had any experience of, is another exploding clown car. Or, just a thought, shut up.