Novelties

Gran Coupe joins the BMW 8 Series

The BMW 8 Series initially started with two designs – a coupe and a convertible – but a third one, called Gran Coupe, joins them in September 2019. The new model is essentially a full-size four-door sedan/salon that boasts a sports car silhouette and comes as a replacement for its discontinued 6 Series counterpart.

Compared to the two-door sibling, the Gran Coupe sports a longer wheelbase (+231 mm / +9 inches for a total of 3,023 mm / 9.92 ft.). Its main dimensions are also larger (length: 5,082 mm / 16.67 ft.; width: 1,932 mm / 6.34 ft.; height: 1,407 mm / 4.63 ft.).

The seating formula is 4+1, which means the rear row is represented by two separate seats with headrests, but you can accommodate a third passenger there as well. There are safety belts for all three, but only two headrests. Options include rear window curtains and a four-zone climate control system.

In its 840i trim, the BMW Gran Coupe ships with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine rated at 340 horsepower (254 kilowatts). The engine links to an eight-speed automatic transmission and comes with a choice between RWD and all-wheel drive. The M850i variant packs a potent V8 rated at 530 hp (395 kW) and is AWD only. The 840d version comes equipped with a turbocharged diesel engine rated at 320 hp (238 kW), 8-speed automatic gearbox and AWD.

The top trim version needs 3.9 seconds to get from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph), which is 0.2 s longer than the standard two-door coupe can do. BMW says this is largely due to the Gran Coupe weighing 70 kilograms (154 pounds) more.

All trims – even the cheapest one – list adaptive suspension under standard equipment, but air suspension is not available, not even as a paid option. You can still get active roll stabilizers and a rear-wheel steering upgrade if you wish, though.

Sales begin in September. The performance-packed BMW M8 Gran Coupe will celebrate its premiere at an unspecified later date.

Photos: BMW

Editor: Olga Markelova