BMW unveils facelifted 8 Series range
BMW Australia will offer mildly updated versions of its 8 Series Coupe, Gran Coupe and Cabriolet variants, including the M8 Competition two-door flagships, from around mid-year.
The aesthetic update is very subtle – only minor details have been changed. All 8 Series variants (apart from the M8) come standard the M Sport package, which incorporates a sportier front apron, side skirts and rear apron. However, the front air intakes now feature horizontal struts, while the rear apron’s diffuser insert is finished in Dark Shadow metallic.
BMW Laserlight headlights, adaptive cornering lights and the anti-dazzle high-beam assistant (BMW Selective Beam) come standard on locally-delivered 8 Series derivatives, but perhaps the most significant styling addition is the “Iconic Glow” kidney grille, which is activated as soon as the vehicle is opened and can be switched on or off by the driver.
The trio of M850i xDrive derivatives now comes equipped with the M8’s M exterior mirrors and front spoiler attachment, while the coupe version gains an M rear spoiler.
A total of five new body colours is available, including Skyscraper Grey metallic, San Remo Green metallic, M Portimao Blue metallic, as well as BMW Individual’s Frozen Pure Grey and Frozen Tanzanite Blue. Additionally, two new 20-inch alloy options have joined the line-up.
As for the interior, BMW Individual Merino leather trim remains standard, but a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster has replaced the 10.25-inch panel of the pre-facelift model.
All 840i variants are fitted with a CraftedClarity glass transmission lever, iDrive controller and start/stop button (they were previously available only for M850i xDrive), while a BMW Drive Recorder, which records up to 40 seconds of video footage of the car’s surroundings (either automatically or at the touch of a button), is now standard across the range.
Meanwhile, the flagship M8 Competition Coupe and Gran Coupe models will arrive in Australia later this year replete with a wider choice of exterior finishes offerings, the addition of the M Lights Shadow Line, new interior combinations and special BMW Motorsport badging as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of BMW M.
The new palette includes Skyscraper grey metallic, M Brooklyn grey metallic and Isle of Man green metallic, as well as the BMW Individual Tanzanite Blue metallic. In addition, four new variants of the BMW Individual special finish – Frozen Pure Grey metallic, Daytona Beach Blue and Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic – can now be ordered at extra cost.
The standard-fit BMW Laserlight headlamps – with adaptive cornering light and BMW Selective Beam glare-free main beam assistant – is augmented with M Lights Shadow Line, which incorporates a dark design for the inserts and chrome elements inside the headlamps. A new 20-inch M light alloy wheel design in Bicolour Black Grey has also been introduced.
As for the interiors of the M8 Competition siblings, the upgraded 12.3-inch digital instrument display has been carried over from the rest of the updated range, however the full-leather Merino/Alcantara trimmed M sports seats and M Carbon bucket seats are now also available – for the first time – with the colour combination of black and Sakhir orange.
Finally, the black Alcantara interior elements in all versions of M8 Competition are now extended to the instrument panel and the upper areas of the door sills.
The range begins with the rear-wheel-drive 840i, which is powered by a 250kW/500Nm 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-petrol that is mated with an eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission.
BMW claims the 840i Coupé will complete the dash from zero to 100km/h in only five seconds, while the Gran Coupé will achieve it in 5.2 seconds and the Convertible in 5.3.
The M850i xDrive’s 4.4-litre V8 turbo-petrol develops 390kW and 750Nm in combination with an eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission and all-wheel-drive. The claimed zero to 100km/h sprint times are 3.7 seconds for the coupé and 3.9-seconds for the Gran Coupé and Convertible.
Compared with the M850i, the M8 Coupe and M8 Gran Coupe, produce an additional 70kW of peak power (460 kW), which is transferred to the road via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. BMW claims a zero for 100km/h sprint time of just 3.2 seconds for the pair of range-toppers.
2022 BMW 8 Series pricing*:
| 840i Coupe | $187,900 |
| 840i Convertible | $202,900 |
| 840i Gran Coupe | $184,900 |
| M850i xDrive Coupe | $285,900 |
| M850i xDrive Convertible | $294,900 |
| M850i xDrive Gran Coupé | $282,900 |
| M8 Competition Coupé | $362,900 |
| M8 Competition Gran Coupé | $359,900 |
*Pricing excludes on-road costs.