The worldwide launch of the car will start a few months later in September.
The 4-door sports car joins the 8 Series Coupe and 8 Series Convertible as the third model in the 8 Series range.
The new 8 Series Gran Coupe is the only model in its segment derived directly from a two-door sports car. Its resultant dynamic potential, plus a longer wheelbase and model-specific chassis tuning, create a balance between sports performance and ride comfort.
Four model variants are available from launch: the V8-based M850i xDrive Gran Coupe; 840d xDrive Gran Coupe; 840i Gran Coupe; and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe.
Because the windscreen frame is more upright, the roofline is also higher, meaning additional headroom in both the front and rear. The roofline merges into the tail in a graceful sweep, via a fin-shaped transition in the vicinity of the C-pillars that emphasises the elongated silhouette.
The rear window, meanwhile, also follows a slightly steeper line in order to produce a larger boot aperture. An additional character line accentuates the sweeping elegance of the body and powerfully flared surfaces integrate pronounced shoulders into the overall effect.
The side window graphic reaches its conclusion at the rear in another hallmark BMW design cue. On the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, the counter-swing at the trailing edge of the side window graphic – the Hofmeister kink – is upright.
The flared wheel arches and wide track also play a defining role in the form of the rear end. Horizontal lines and sculptural surface contours
give the tail a broad but also light appearance. The slim all-LED rear light clusters extend deep into the flanks. And twin exhaust tailpipes with a trapezoidal contour are positioned either side of the rear apron’s lower section.
The four-door car has a 3,023-millimetre wheelbase – an increase of 201mm over the 8 Series Coupe – and measures 5,082 millimetres in length (+ 231 mm), 1,932 millimetres in width (+ 30 mm) and 1,407 millimetres in height (+ 61 mm).
The Gran Coupe’s front section is identical to the 8 Series Coupe’s design up to the point where the A-pillars start. The wide, low-slung
front end exudes sporting intent and a confident presence. Adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard. The optional BMW Laserlight with Selective Beam produces a high-beam range of around 600 metres.
The extra length of the wheelbase and generously sized door apertures give passengers in the rear unprecedented legroom for a BMW coupe – and they are able to get in and out more easily than ever as well.
Those in the rear seats also benefit from substantially greater shoulder room and headroom than in the two-door version of the new BMW 8 Series, making the second-row seats even more comfortable to travel in.
The optional panoramic glass roof helps to give the interior of the new 8 Series Gran Coupe an exceptionally light-filled fee. The 1.5 square
metres glass surface area stretches from the windscreen to the rear window.
The front section of the roof and the interior blinds open and close at the touch of a button or with the radio remote control, delivering a controlled supply of fresh air. The rear blind can also be opened and closed from the rear compartment. A four-zone automatic climate control system and electric sun blinds for the rear side windows and rear window are both available exclusively for the four-door variant in the 8 Series line-up.
The ambient lighting fitted as standard in the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe accentuates the forward-pointing lines inside the car to dramatic effect.
Standard specification for the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe also includes an instrument panel and door shoulders wrapped in fulled leather, electrically operated sports seats with head restraints integrated stylistically into the seat backrests, and Vernasca leather trim. The multifunction seats fitted as standard in the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe come in Merino leather trim with extended appointments.
Another option available for the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and in cars with the M Sport package are the new M Sport seats with highly distinctive bucket-seat styling.
The extended centre console is exclusive to the new 8 Series Gran Coupe model, as is the rear seat unit featuring outer seats styled as individual seats. The contours and seam patterns of the outer rear seats are modelled on the sports seats in the front.
The rear seats likewise offer excellent lateral support and integral head restraints, allowing their occupants to also share in that undiluted sports-car feel. A third seat for use on short journeys nestles between the two outer seats and has a complete seatbelt system, making
the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe a 4+1-seater.
The car’s luggage-carrying setup can be varied the 40 : 20 : 40 split/folding rear backrest, whose individual sections can be folded down from the boot using a lever. With a capacity of 440 litres, the boot is big enough to accommodate three golf bags.
The 8 Series Gran Coupe have an almost completely sealed underbody, active air flap control, Air Curtains and slender exterior mirror bases.
As well as the doors and the outer skin of the roof, the bonnet, front shear panel, engine subframe, front bulkhead and rear bumper support are all made from aluminium. The plastic boot lid, the magnesium cockpit support and the use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the centre tunnel help to both reduce weight and distribute it to optimum effect.
As a result, the four-door version’s weight penalty over the BMW 8 Series Coupe has been limited to around 70 kilograms. Fitting the optional carbon-fibre roof lowers the car’s centre of gravity even further and there is also the option of an M Carbon exterior package comprising air intake bars, exterior mirror caps and a rear diffuser insert all made from CFRP.
The 4.4-litre V8 engine in the new M850i xDrive Gran Coupe has peak output of 390 kW/530 hp and peak torque of 750 Nm; the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
The 3.0-litre engine in the 840i Gran Coupe and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe versions produces maximum output of 250 kW/340 hp and torque peaking at 500 Nm. The 3.0-litre unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology weighs in at around six kilograms less than the engine it replaces and makes its mark with noticeably enhanced elasticity throughout the rev range.
The 840i Gran Coupe powers from rest to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, the new BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe in 4.9 seconds.
Meanwhile, there's also a diesel version. The 3.0-litre straight-six diesel unit in the 840d xDrive Gran Coupe has peak output of 235 kW/320 hp and peak torque of 680Nm. The 840d xDrive Gran Coupe races from 0 to 100 kph in 5.1 seconds.
All of the engines available for the new 8 Series Gran Coupe meet the Euro 6d-TEMP standard. They link up with an eight-speed Steptronic
Sport transmission, which comes with shift paddles on the steering wheel as standard so the driver can also change gears manually.
