BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Is Here To Take On The Panamera And CLS

Barely a month after unveiling the M8, BMW has unveiled yet another variation of the 8 Series – the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

Developed alongside the 8 Series Coupe and the M8 GTE endurance racing car, the 8 Series Gran Coupe is the four-door version of the 8 which is here to take on cars like the Porsche Panamera as well as the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

All set to make its world premiere in just a few more days at the BMW #NextGen event in Munich, the 8 Series Gran Coupe will be available in four variants:

• BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe (530 hp / 750 Nm, 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8)
• BMW 840i Gran Coupe (340 hp / 500 Nm, 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six)
• BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe (340 hp / 500 Nm, 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six)
• BMW 840d xDrive Gran Coupe (320 hp / 680 Nm, 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six diesel)

All engines are mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission, and BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system (except the BMW 840i Gran Coupe which is rear-wheel driven).

Measuring 5,082 mm in length, 1,932 mm in width, and 1,407 mm in height, the 8 Series Gran Coupe is 231 mm longer, 30 mm wider, and 61 mm taller than the Coupe. The 3,023 mm-long wheelbase is also 201 mm longer than the coupe.  In terms of weight, the Gran Coupe is only about 70 kg heavier than the Coupe despite the significant difference in size.

Dimensions aside, the rear half of the car has been redesigned, featuring a stretched roofline which merges smoothly into the tail with a fin‑shaped transition.

Other differences include the windscreen frame which is wider than the coupe’s, and a rear window which is steeper than the 2-door versions.

The Gran Coupe also comes with very muscular, sculpted shoulders around the C-pillars, as well as extremely wide tracks which really emphasise the width of the car, giving it a very sporty stance when seen from the rear.  The Hofmeister kink is also very upright in form.

As for the front, the Gran Coupe is identical to the Coupe up to the point where the A-pillars start. Other than that, standard features include Adaptive LED headlights, full LED taillights, 20-inch tyres, 19-inch M Sport brakes, as well as an exclusive BMW Individual Frozen Bluestone metallic paint.

Inside, standard specification includes sports seats, Vernasca leather upholstery, ambient lighting, full leather-clad instrument panel and door shoulders, individual rear seats with integral head restraints, as well as a smaller third rear seat which is suitable for short journeys.

The car also offers more legroom than ever in a BMW coupe, and large door apertures make getting in and out easier. There has also been a considerable increase in shoulder room in the rear, and more headroom in all seats than in the two-door members of the new BMW 8 Series range.

Also standard is the BMW Live Cockpit Professional instrument panel which comprises of a navigation and multimedia system, plus a fully digital, high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with a 12.3-inch screen, and a 10.25-inch central display on the dashboard.

All of these are powered by BMW Operating System 7.0, which allows the driver to access the infotainment system, driver assistance features, and other configurations via the control display’s touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, the steering wheel buttons, voice control, or even gesture control. 

A four-zone automatic climate control system and electric sun blinds for the rear side windows and rear window are also available exclusively for the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

The car’s luggage-carrying setup can be varied with ease courtesy of the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats which can be folded from the boot using a lever. With a capacity of 440 litres, the boot is big enough to accommodate three golf bags.

Last but not least, standard driver assistance features in the 8 Series Gran Coupe include a Head-Up Display, the Driving Assistant, Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change Warning, Speed Limit Info, rear crossing traffic warning and rear collision warning.

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