“The 8 Series coupe is the sportiest car in its segment,” said BMW Chief of R&D Klaus Fröhlich to journalists present at the unveil of the BMW Concept 8 Series. “It’s neither a Vantage [Aston Martin] nor a 911 [Porsche] but a proper high-performance BMW with a character of its own.”
But before we get to test that claim, BMW has been delighting us with a series of images showcasing the curvaceous and elegant lines of the resurrected 8 Series. The exterior design of the new 8 Series doesn’t build upon the first generation 8 Series – not that it could have anyway – but rather on the design philosophy of the 6 Series Coupe, in a more compact package.
The new 8 Series is shorter, wider, and lower than the 6 Series, yet it sits on a longer wheelbase. Creases along the hood and large side air intakes give the concept a fluid look. Bold arches framing 21-inch alloy wheels hint at the car’s rear-wheel-drive athleticism.
At the front, we can see that the kidney grilles are actually made of one grille surround, which is a BMW first. At the rear end, we get a close look at the taillights, which have some genuinely interesting geometry to them, as they stick out and create interesting shapes.
Inside the cabin, look for sport seats with a carbon-fiber shell, red-anodized paddle shifters, and aluminum accents. The iDrive controller is new and also made from Swarovski glass, and Girard says it’s a preview of the infotainment system which will arrive to other models in 2018.
Powertrain options remain unknown at this point, but the coupe could borrow engines from the 7 Series, including a 3.0-liter turbo-six, a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, and even a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12. The M8 was already previewed by BMW.
Click below to download photos of the BMW Concept 8 Series.
