Set to be unveiled this summer, the two models were
previewed the 8-Series concept, but the styling has been notably tamed down
even in the M Sport variants seen here. Regardless, the cars have a sporty
front fascia with a wide grille, slender headlights and large air intakes with
honeycomb mesh inserts.
While the coupe and convertible are largely
identical, the coupe is the more stylish of the two as it features a sloping
roofline, muscular rear fenders and a small rear spoiler. The convertible is
slightly less adventurous as the power retractable soft top required a number
of changes to the rear end including a flatter trunk lid and a repositioned
third brake light.
Actually, aside from the 8-Series coupe and
convertible you see here in prototype form, BMW will also build a four-door
Gran Coupe. Codenamed G16, it was previewed earlier this year with the M8 GC
Concept in Geneva. A rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Porsche Panamera, it’s
expected to be introduced in production guise in the second half of 2019. It
will be available with the same powertrains as the two-door models, including
an all-mighty M8 version with a twin-turbo V8 that will likely target the
Mercedes-AMG GT.
While most of the dash remains hidden in these
8-Series prototypes, we can see it has metallic accents, a stubby gear selector
and an iDrive controller with a knurled surround. Expect the same top-end
technology features used in the current 7-Series and then some more, including
BMW’s latest iteration of their autonomous driving system.
Engine options will likely carryover from the
7-Series so we can expect a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder developing
around 335 hp. There should also be a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8
producing 455 hp. Buyers looking for something more powerful can look
forward to the M8 which will likely use an upgraded version of the 4.4-liter V8
engine that resides in the M5. The exact output remains unclear but rumors have
suggested it could produce between 616 hp and 641 hp.
It will be connected to an eight-speed
dual-clutch transmission feeding a rear-drive biased xDrive AWD system. There
has also been talk about an M Performance variant, a plug-in hybrid model with
the iPerformance moniker, and a luxury model with a V12 engine, though the
latter seems like a hard sale these days.
June 15 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before the
8-Series makes its public world premiere at the 2018 Paris Auto Show in
September. Sales are expected to start later in the fall.
Cr : Carscoops
