Gran Sporting Elegance - BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Is A Thing Of Beauty

BMW Asia and Performance Munich Autos announced the availability of the all-new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. The four-door coupe is one of three body styles (the other two being the Coupe and Convertible) offered as an 8 Series, completing their range.

The 8 Series enjoys racing pedigree, being developed alongside the M8 GTE racing car – which competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC).

Built at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Lower Bavaria, in the same facility which builds their flagship 7 Series sedan, BMW’s luxurious four-door coupe has a longer wheelbase at 3,023mm, 201mm more than its 2-doored siblings. The additional space translates to additional comfortable rear legroom.

At 1,932mm, the 8 Series Gran Coupe is the widest of any model in the BMW line-up. While styled similar to its siblings, the Gran Coupe takes on its own design identity from where the A pillars start. Featuring a slightly more upright windshield, the Gran Coupe sports a higher roofline, which translates to more headroom for front and rear passengers. At the rear, the roofline sweeps downward, emphasising an elongated silhouette. BMW has also eliminated the need of a fin-style antenna, by integrating it with the rear windshield and bootlid.

Like new higher-end “Bimmers” the 8 Series also features BMW’s new Laserlight technology as standard (identifiable by blue accents inside its customary twin headlights), which produces a high-beam range of around 600 metres.

Engineers have also done well in sorting the aerodynamics on the all-new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. An almost completely sealed underbody, active air flap control with adjustable kidney grille slats, Air Curtains in the front apron and the super-slender exterior mirror bases are designed for optimum air passage, while an additional front spoiler lip on the all-new BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe minimises front-axle lift at high speeds.

Weight reduction has also been a main focus during the development of the 8 Series. Aluminium is extensively utilised, while magnesium cockpit support and the use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the centre tunnel (what BMW terms Carbon Core) help to both reduce weight and distribute it to optimum effect. A carbon-fibre roof is available as an option, for those who wish to lower the car’s centre of gravity even further.

On the inside, the 8 Series Gran Coupe features four “official” bucket-style seats, with capacity to carry another +1 passenger on short journeys. Supple Merino leather is standard, and available in Black, Cognac and Ivory White as well as a variety of particularly striking two-tone colour schemes, including the new combinations Midnight Blue/Ivory White and Tartufo/Ivory White. Cargo room at 440 litres is according to the guys at BMW, good enough for up to three golf bags loaded lengthwise.

BMW’s new Operating System 7.0 which includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, the latter which helps to make navigating through its feature-packed Infotainment system a breeze. Technological goodies like BMW’s Reversing Assistant also makes its way into the car. The system intelligently traces the path you have recently taken (up to 50m), helping you to reverse out of tight confines with ease, makes its way into the Gran Coupe as-well.

Singapore gets two engine variants, a 4.4 litre V8 - the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, good for 530hp, and an impressive 750Nm from 1,800 to 4,600rpm; and features BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system, and also their innovative 4-wheel steering.

The “base” model is powered by a 3.0 straight six, good for 340hp and 500Nm from 1,600 to 4,500rpm.

BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe retails for $605,888*, while pricing for the BMW 840i Gran Coupe will be revealed once the car has passed regulatory homologation.

V8 petrol engine, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology: two twin-scroll turbochargers, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing, Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing camshaft timing.
Capacity: 4,395 cc.
Output: 530 hp at 5,500 – 6,000 rpm.
Torque: 750 Nm at 1,800 – 4,600 rpm.
Acceleration (0 – 100 km/h): 3.9 seconds
Top speed: 250 km/h.
Fuel consumption (combined): 10.7 l/100km.
CO2 emissions: 245 g/km.

Six-cylinder petrol engine, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology: twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing, Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.
Capacity: 2,998 cc.
Output: 340 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm.
Torque: 500 Nm at 1,600 – 4,500 rpm.
Acceleration (0 – 100 km/h): 5.2 seconds.
Top speed: 250 km/h.

*Price accurate at time of launch

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