BMW Re-Opens The Curtain On BMW 8 Series For 2018

The stage with concept mock-up in foreground at the 96th Annual General Meeting of BMW AG at Olympiahalle in Munich on 12 May 2016 (was this also a hint at the new BMW 8 Series?). Image Credit: Bayerische Motoren Werke (2016)

 

BMW Re-Opens The Curtain On BMW 8 Series For 2018

In the late 1990's, Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) advanced the line of luxury coupes by introducing the follow-on to one of the most successful 4-door sport sedans introduced in the mid 1990's the BMW 7 Series.

The hint that BMW intends to re-issue a 2-door high level sport coupe came during the BMW annual corporate meeting in Munich this week when the chairman of the BMW board, Harald Krüger, confirmed that the BMW 8 Series Coupe will be re-introduced in 2018.
 

BMW released this teaser image showing a low-slung coupe with a long hood and wide haunches. The silhouette resembles the look of 8 Series prototype coupes seen in designs as early as May, 2013 with the BMW-Pininfarina. Image Credit: Bayerische Motoren Werke (2017)

 

This excerpted and edited from MotorTrend Magazine -

BMW 8 Series Coupe Confirmed
By Kelly Pleskot - May 11, 2017

BMW boss Harald Krüger announced the plans at the company’s Annual General Meeting today. “The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination,” said Krüger. “The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”
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Powertrain options remain unclear at this point, but the 8 Series could share engines with the 7 Series, including a 3.0-liter turbo-six, a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, and a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12. M Sport or M Performance variants are also possible. When it comes to market, the 8 Series will compete against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and the Lexus LC 500.
[Reference Here]

 

 

This excerpted and edited from Autoweek -

BMW 8-Series set for 2018 debut
REPORT: COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE DUO WILL USE 7-SERIES TECH TO TAKE ON MERCEDES YACHTS
May 11, 2017

BMW is rolling out the new 8-Series coupe in 2018 and a two-door convertible a year later. The luxury duo replaces the 6-Series Coupe and Convertible, not exactly runaway successes for Munich since their 2013 launch. The 8-Series range has already been distantly previewed in concept form by the 2013 BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe concept, seen in the video above. The Gran Lusso envisioned an ultra-luxury model positioned above the 7-Series.

The 8-Series is expected to borrow heavily from the 7-Series parts bin offering V8 and V12 power, according to Reuters and Automotive News Europe and should be priced just north of the 7-Series range.

Though BMW has not explicitly ruled out other variants, for now, it looks like just the two-door hardtop and convertible are coming. A four-door isn't in the cards; it would basically be a 7-Series sedan itself. An M8 performance model has been reported as part of the discussions.
[Reference Here]

... notes from The EDJE

 

 

TAGS: BMW, BMW 8 Series, Coupe, Convertible, 2018, Harald Krüger, The EDJE