The New 8 Series is Finally Here

It's Back

It's back folks and better than ever. The BMW 8-Series has been a model that has been on vacation for twenty years! It stands at the top of the range for BMW and will compete against players like the Mercedes S500 Coupe and Bentley Continental. BMW hopes to steal customers from fellow European rivals using the latest in safety tech and driving dynamics. Not to mention the introduction of a performance variant called the M8...

This has been a long time coming since its concept debut over a year ago. The official road version doesn't stray too far from the concept's styling (similar to the i8 when it first debuted). That means the 8-Series will look cutting-edge for years to come, unlike the competition... 

Engine

The 8-Series will have a whole slew of engine variants but the one you will be able to buy from the get-go is the M850i's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, which produces 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Not bad for the "base." The M8 will share the powertrain from the M5. Expect hybrid powertrains to come in the near future as well as more polar-bear friendly V6s and such.

The 8-Series will do the 0-60 sprint in 3.6 seconds and go all the way to 155 mph. That will all be sent to the asphalt via all four wheels and through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. No two-wheel drive models will be available for manual transmission options, unfortunately. 

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More Bits

Despite weighing in at 4,478 pounds, BMW has tried their best to make the 8-Series as light as possible with the help of aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber. One can opt for a carbon fiber roof, spoiler, and mirrors to make it even lighter (or more cool-looking).

Styling is extremely futuristic and takes multiple cues from the 8-Series before it. A sloping roofline, thinner headlights, and character lines are all based on the previous iteration. Compared to the Mercedes S-Class Coupe, the BMW is much more aggressive and demands to be seen on the road. The larger wheels and wide rear give it a sharp stance. 

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Interior

The cabin is classic BMW but with a modern more upscale and clean look befitting a halo car. The real difference is the instrument cluster which ditches classic circular dials for an all-new angular instrument cluster. The 8-Series will have multiple configurable settings for driving modes, allowing you to tailor your driving experience to fit your needs. Things like steering, chassis stiffness, engine response, and exhaust sound can all be fiddled with.

The interior will also have a Heads-Up display along with Gesture Control and Ambient Lighting to give your 8-Series that true virtual reality feel! Lastly, the 8 doesn't need a key anymore. Your phone can now act as the key: allowing you to start, unlock, heat, and cool the car remotely. The future is here!  

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When Can I Get One?

The 8-Series will be hitting showrooms across the nation next fall. Expect it to cost from $120,000-$140,000. For that, you get incredible build quality, drop-dead gorgeous styling, that fun factor everyone years for, and a revitalized moniker with a rich history. The 8-Series is easily the most stunning car in its class and will turn heads everywhere. BMW is known to offer the best in driving pleasure, comfort, and technology--and being the top of the range, the 8-Series is the pinnacle of all those qualities.

If you are more of a speed demon, wait for the M8 to come later this year. Its 600+ horsepower engine will make you grin from ear to ear.  

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Other Models

BMW is planning on giving the 6-Series a refresh as well as the 3 and 4-Series before long. So if the 8-Series is too big or pricey for you, hold on just a few months longer and you'll have your pick from a whole new lineup of BMW machines. Technology and styling will trickle down as well! BMW also hopes to implement hybrid technologies into almost every model in the near future. 

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