Super coupe’s back in style

REMEMBER the old 8-Series? A big wedge-shaped motor built between 1990 and 1999, at which point it was killed off due to poor sales.

It had pop-up headlamps, which were old school but cool, and a host of futuristic techy features such as a fly-by-wire throttle and the first use of BMW’S multi-link rear suspension.

Until quite recently there was one up my road and I sort of hankered after it, although I don’t remember having the hots for the 8-Series back in the day.

Now BMW has reintroduced the 8-Series as a replacement for the current 6-Series and, unlike the original, it is available as a convertible as well as a coupe. Later there’ll be a four-door Gran Coupe version as well.

For the moment you have the choice between a 523bhp twinturbo petrol V8 or a 3.0-litre 315bhp twin-turbo straight-six diesel. A six-cylinder petrol engine is set to join the line-up in July. That car will also be simpler with two-wheel drive. It might turn out to be not just the cheapest version, but the best one.

We’re testing the 840d xdrive in BMW 840d xdrive two-door coupe

3.0-litre 4.9sec 40.4mpg

a futile attempt to keep to a more reasonable price. No luck I’m afraid as this, the cheapest 8-Series, has a hefty pricetag. However, if it follows the pattern of the ’90s car then it will depreciate savagely and within a decade you’ll be able to pick one up for pennies.

Mind you, you’d be a nervous wreck about it going wrong because this is one complicated