A car that combines design, luxury, technology, and sports performance.
BMW announced the new four-door 8 Series Gran Coupes, available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive versions. The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is longer, wider, and taller than the 8 Series Coupe. The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, regardless of engine, offers a powerful four-door body with wide flanks and sharply designed lines. From the A-pillar back, the Gran Coupe differs from Coupe to both increase interior space and deliver stronger and more powerful exterior. The windshield has less rake than in the Coupe to make the roofline to rise to higher above the front seats, providing increased headroom for passengers. The roof then links with the trunk and creates a long and flowing body. The rear glass has an increased rake to make the trunk more accessible and also forms a fixed part of the structure to increase rigidity and reduce noise in the cabin. The subtle flying buttress design requires the finishing folds of the metalwork be done by hand and allows for elegant design to be delivered to each and every owner.
Panoramic glass roof goes from the front windshield all the way back to the rear, letting a lot of light into the cabin. The multi-functional antenna is integrated into the rear glass to eliminate the need for traditional antenna and allow for the larger glass roof. The M850i xDrive Gran Coupe offers an optional Carbon Fiber roof which replaces glass moonroof and lowers both the weight and center of gravity for improved handling and performance. Large openings in both sides of the front bumper add more character to the front end of the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and even more aggressive appearance. Functional Air Breathers let air flow through the front fenders improving aerodynamics and adding to the style. The Hofmeister kink in the huge c-pillar ties the side profile to sexy sculptured rear fenders and trunk. Slim LED rear lights stand high above two exhaust pipes. Extensive use of lightweight materials helped to reduce weight, aluminum construction is used for the doors, hood, roof, front bulkhead, engine subframe, and rear bumper support. The trunk lid is made from dent-resistant plastic while the cabin dashboard support is made from magnesium and parts of the center driveline tunnel are made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic
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The BMW 8 Series’ has of sports character and luxury that can now be enjoyed by five passengers. The longer wheelbase and wider rear flanks of 8 Series Gran Coupe give a significant increase in interior space, front headroom, rear headroom, rear legroom, and the rear shoulder room improved visibly. Interior brings Nappa leather on the dashboard and upper door panels, electroplated air vent surrounds and door trim and quilting and decorative stitching on the seats. The center console in the 8 Series Gran Coupe is unique and continues into the rear, dividing right and left seats while still allowing for the rear center seat. The rear console offers passengers right and left climate controls, air vents, storage tray, and USB-C ports. The heated front seats include integrated headrests and their thinner profile allow for greater rear knee space. All four seats offer generous levels of support so that the performance of the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be enjoyed by all passengers. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 configuration allowing for any variation of passengers and cargo. Indirect illumination of the contour lines running along with the center console and the door shoulders using precisely positioned LED optical fibers creates an exclusive mood. Standard paint finishes on the new 8 Series Gran Coupe include non-metallic Alpine White and metallic finishes in Carbon Black (for the M Sport package), Black Sapphire (840 only), Mineral White, Sonic Speed Blue, Sunset Orange, Bluestone (840 only), Blue Ridge Mountain and Barcelona Blue (840 only). Optional Individual paint finishes include Dravit Grey Metallic, Tanzanite Blue II Metallic, Aventurin Red Metallic, and Frozen Bluestone Metallic.
Both 840 versions feature standard Vernasca leather in either Black, Ivory White or Cognac. Optional on these two and standard on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is Individual Extended Merino Leather in Black Ivory White, Cognac and two-tone Night Blue/Black, Tartufo/Black, and Fiona Red/Black. BMW Individual Full Merino leather is optional on all Gran Coupe models and includes Black, Cognac, Ivory White, Ivory White/Night Blue, Ivory White/Tartufo, Night Blue/Black, Tartufo/Black, and Fiona Red/Black.
The BMW 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe are powered by the BMW’s TwinPower 3.0 liter 6-cylinder Turbo engine. Weighing less than its predecessor, the new engine produces 335 hp between 5,000 – 6,500 rpm. This allows the rear-wheel-drive 840i Gran Coupe to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph(100kph) in 4.9 seconds while the added traction of BMW xDrive allows the 840i xDrive Gran Coupe to reach 60 mph (100kph) in 4.6 seconds. The new 6-cylinder engine has an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head, a twin-scroll turbocharger with quicker response and direct fuel injection working at a pressure of 350 bar. A housing with improved flow and turbines with reduced masses to ensure the rapid build-up of pressure, and the charge air cooler has been incorporated into the intake system. The latest version of the VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing system gives high-precision adjustments for instantaneous power delivery and improve engine efficiency. The exhaust manifold embedded in the cylinder head cooling jacket, the new oil module with integral heat exchanger and the split-cooling valve serves to optimize the engine’s temperature management. Efficiency is given a further boost by the low-friction belt drive and the reduced weight of both the crankshaft and oil pump.
The BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is powered by BMW TwinPower 4.4-liter eight-cylinder Turbo engine. Power production is rated at 523 hp between 5,500 – 6,000 rpm which allow for acceleration from 0 to 60 mph(100kph) in 3.7 seconds. Two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling located within the V-shaped space between the cylinder banks, High Precision fuel Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable timing all form part of the M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology, whose extensive overhaul has given a substantial boost to maximum power, torque, and efficiency. The new V8 engine gives sporty sound, which is enhanced further by the standard flap-controlled exhaust system. It has a universal character that can adapt form ultra sport to effortlessly relaxed cruising. The Driving Experience Control switch can be used to activate both extremely sporty and distinctly comfort-oriented powertrain settings.
A new aluminium alloy has been used to increase the strength of the engine block. The wire-arc sprayed iron coating for the cylinder walls serves to reduce frictional losses. Reinforced, Grafal-coated pistons and optimized rings are designed to endure the stress on the crank drive that comes with the extra output and torque. To enhance engine smoothness, torsional vibration is minimized with the help of a viscous damper on the crankshaft.
Eight-speed Steptronic transmission and all-wheel drive transfer torque from the engine to the road and shifts gears sharply thanks of an optimized hydraulics control unit. A new generation of torsion dampers that reduce rotational forces within the powertrain help improve both driving comfort and shift smoothness. Integral twin-damper systems for isolating vibrations reduce the degree of slip at the torque converter lock-up clutch. Shift paddles on the steering wheel are included as standard for manual gear selection, while a Launch Control function allows for accelerating from a standing start with maximum available traction. The transmission’s controller can adapt its shift parameters to the current driving situation through intelligent networking with the Navigation system, enabling it to take the planned route into account. Navigation data is used to downshift early, for example, when approaching an intersection in order to use engine braking to slow the car down. Likewise, the intelligent controller is able to avoid unnecessary gear shifts between two corners that follow in quick succession, making it possible to drive through quicker.
In the 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive, the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system has a fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear, maximizing traction and handling stability both when driving in adverse road conditions or in performance driving. Power is split in accordance with demands at all times using a multi-plate clutch that is connected with the powertrain and chassis control systems. To increase the system’s efficiency, all of the drive torque is directed to the rear wheels in situations when all-wheel drive is not needed. The xDrive system’s rear-biased set-up guarantees a driving experience for which BMW sports cars are renowned.
The new platform of the 8 Series Gran Coupe offers great benefits in ride comfort and high-speed stability. The front double-wishbone suspension, rear five-link suspension, electromechanical steering, and Dynamic Damper Control combine to give the perfect combination of comfort and precise, sporty handling. The design principle of the double-wishbone front suspension makes it possible to separate steering and damper functions. As a result, the car’s steering remains largely unaffected by forces caused by irregularities in the road surface. Thanks to bi-elastic bushings, the five-link rear suspension guarantees precise wheel guidance and the highest degree of directional stability. In addition, effective isolation of the powertrain and suspension improves interior acoustic comfort. Integral Active Steering is standard on the 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive Gran Coupe models and optional on the 840i Gran Coupe. Integral Active Steering reduces the car’s turning circle when maneuvering, increases agility at moderate speeds and optimizes stability when changing lanes and cornering at high speeds. The system combines the electromechanical steering of the front wheels (including Servotronic function for speed-sensitive power assistance) and the variable steering ratio in the rear axle steering.
The 6-cylinder 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe models come standard with 18-inch V-spoke Style 642 wheels with 245/45R18 front and 275/40R18 rear all-season run-flat tires. Optional on these two models are 19-inch wheels with 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear all-season or performance run-flat tires, 20-inch wheels with 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear performance run-flat tires. The M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is equipped with standard 20-inch V-spoke cerium grey wheels with 245/35R20 and 275/30R20 performance run-flat tires. Non-run-flat 20-inch tires can also be specified on the M Performance model as can 19-inch wheels with 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear all-season run-flat tires. M Sport brakes are standard on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and optional on the 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe models.
The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is available with a wide variety of driver assistance systems. The systems really come into their own when driving longer distances by relieving the strain on the driver in monotonous situations, such as traffic jams or slow-moving traffic. They enhance comfort and safety both in urban traffic and on longer trips by providing targeted assistance in complex traffic situations. The driver assistance systems process camera images as well as the data gathered by ultrasonic and radar sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, to warn of potential hazards and to minimize the risk of an accident with corrective braking or steering inputs. Standard equipment includes Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation. Depending on the situation, the system can bring the vehicle to a halt to either avoid a collision or minimize its consequences.
The optional Driving Assistance Professional contains Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View Camera, Parking Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Speed Limit Information. On top of that, the Driving Assistance Professional offers comprehensive assistance for comfortable and safe driving. This package includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function. It maintains the desired speed while taking the traffic situation into account, but also the selected distance to vehicles in front. If required, the system is able to break the car to a stop then pull away again automatically after being stationary for up to 30 seconds, meaning greater comfort in stop-start traffic. Camera images and data from a front radar system are used for distance control.
Another component of the Driving Assistance Professional Package is the Lane Keeping Assistant with Active Side Collision Protection. This system is designed to help the driver guide the vehicle back onto the correct path with an active turn of the steering wheel. Besides emitting visual warning signals and causing the steering wheel to vibrate, active side collision protection also uses active steering intervention to help avoid a collision. Moreover, this package includes Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways, which allows for even more relaxed driving during highly congested highway traffic situations. The Driving Assistance Professional Package includes Evasion Aid, which now also reacts to pedestrians and Front Cross Traffic Alert – which reduces the danger of a collision when maneuvering forwards towards roads that are obstructed from the driver’s view.
The latest generation of the BMW Head-Up display system features a larger projection area, optimized graphics, and additional content. The BMW Head-Up Display projects information directly into the driver’s field of vision where it can be viewed without any need for them to divert their eyes from the road. This includes details of vehicle speed, speed limits and overtaking restrictions, Check Control messages, status indicators and warnings from the assistance systems, detailed route guidance and turn instructions, as well as telephone and entertainment lists. The displayed information and style can be adjusted via the new M mode button on the center console. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional in the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe combines the latest-generation of the iDrive, featuring a high-resolution digital 12.3” instrument cluster display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25” center display diagonally across. The system offers many hardware upgrades including new haptic controls on the iDrive controller, an advanced tablet-like touch interface, and stunning visualizations. The multi-modal approach of the iDrive touch controller, large touchscreen center display, cloud-based voice control, and gesture control allow users to interact in the way of their choosing.
Elements of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional are the Navigation Professional system, two USB ports plus Bluetooth interfaces. The driver can be automatically detected and personal settings activated either using the traditional vehicle key or by downloading the driver’s personal settings to the BMW Cloud. BMW Connected: digital services for individual mobility.BMW Connected is the companion app for BMW drivers. Intelligent connectivity helps users to reach their destination easily and with minimal stress – and not only from within their car; BMW Connected is an all-embracing concept designed to seamlessly connect the driver and their smartphone with their vehicle.
At the heart of it all is the Open Mobility Cloud, which allows the app to connect the car with the customer’s digital devices. These could include the iPhone and Apple Watch, smartphones and smartwatches running the Android operating system, Alexa-compatible smart devices, and Google Home. For instance, the BMW Connected app can import appointments and addresses from the customer’s calendar entries straight into the navigation system to begin route guidance. The system calculates the optimum departure time based on real-time traffic information and notifies the driver with a message on their smartphone when it is time to leave. As the vehicle is linked up via the Open Mobility Cloud, it is able to access the calculated route directly when the navigation system starts up.