Since the BMW 8 Series made its debut in America, it’s only been available in M850i guise. It can be had in either Coupe or Convertible form but only the M850i can be had. Until now, that is, as BMW has just announced yet another engine option to the 8 Series lineup. For the 2020 model year, the BMW 840i and 840i xDrive will be available, both in either Coupe or Convertible.
Powering the BMW 840i, in any spec, is BMW’s B58 3.0 liter turbocharged straight-six, making 335 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic in all models but can send power to either just the two rear wheels or all four wheels, depending on the model chosen. This also marks the first of the new 8 Series models in America to be available with rear-wheel drive.
The BMW 840i Coupe is claimed to be able to nail 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, with the 840i xDrive Coupe capable of doing the sprint in 4.4 seconds. The Convertible versions drop to 5.0 seconds and 4.6 seconds, respectively. The as-standard top speed for the BMW 840i is 130 mph but can be upgraded to 155 mph if performance tires are equipped.
The starting price for the BMW 840i will be $87,900 and the 840i xDrive will command a bit of a premium, starting at $90,800. So even the standard six-cylinder 8 Series is very expensive. The BMW 840i Convertible starts life at $97,400 and the 840i xDrive Convertible starts at $100,300.
As a customer, if you decide to opt for the less engine and save a few extra bucks, you won’t lost much in terms of equipment. Full LED headlights with Laser Lights are as-standard equipment, as is a twelve-speaker Karmon Kardon sound system. Though, a Bowers & Wilkins system is optional. It also gets the Live Cockpit Professional and the latest iDrive.
Even better than that, all rear-wheel drive models come as-standard with a limited-slip M Differential. It also gets Dynamic Damper Control (adaptive dampers) as-standard. So it should be every bit as fun to drive as the big M850i, in terms of handling dynamics. In fact, we’ve heard that lesser-engine models of the 8 Series drive almost identical to the big M850i. Apart from the power differences, of course.
What’s also great is that even the BMW 840i is as gorgeous as the M850i, so you’re not wanting for style if you opt to save some money on the engine. The main differences between the two cars, the M850i and the 840i, will be the trim colors, exhaust tips and wheels. Aside from that, they’re going to look very similar.
Production for the BMW 840i, both Coupe and Convertible, will start this month, July, 2019 and will go on sale in the US in September, 2019.
