BMW teases 8 Series Gran Coupe

BMW has shown the first official glimpse of its all-new 8 Series Gran Coupe, with the four-door version set to join the two-door coupe and convertible body styles following its reveal in June.

 

The German car-maker’s local arm has put its hand up for the entire 8 Series range, with the two-variant coupe and convertible ranges officially launching to Australian media last week.

 

No local launch timing has been confirmed, however the Gran Coupe will start rolling out globally in September.

 

A single, darkened teaser image has been released of the 8 Series Gran Coupe, which shows the new four-door in profile with the same head- and tail-light shape, long bonnet and curved bootlid of its two-door siblings.

 

According to BMW, the the Gran Coupe provides “impressive space for rear passengers” with its extended wheelbase, while also featuring a spacious rear compartment.

 

The extended wheelbase is also designed to provide greater ride comfort, enhancing the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s credentials as a grand tourer.

 

No details have been provided on which powertrains will underpin the Gran Couope, however it is likely to share the same engines as the two variants in the coupe and convertible line-ups.

 

The range will likely open with the 840d, which employs a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine outputting 235kW/680Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels through BMW’s rear-biased xDrive system.

 

Topping the range for now is the M850i, which uses a 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 tuned to 390kW/750Nm, with the same transmission and drive set-up as the 840d but with the added benefit of a limited-slip differential at the rear.

 

Punters can expect a full-fat M8 version to appear at some point, which would likely use the same V8 engine as the M850i tuned to a higher output – possibly around the same figure as the M5 Competition sedan that can crank out 460kW/750Nm.

 

The M8 Gran Coupe was previewed by a concept version at the Geneva motor show in March last year, which if brought to production would go head-to-head with the likes of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe and Audi RS7 Sportback.

 

While pricing is still a long way off from being announced, previous BMW pricing structures would suggest the Gran Coupe will sit between the Coupe and Convertible in cost, which would mean the M850i would likely be priced around the high-$270,000 mark.

 

More details on what the local 8 Series Gran Coupe line-up will look like will become available when it is revealed in June.