STATELY 8

BMW’S 8 Series Coupé becomes a svelte production reality

TASTEFULLY TONED DOWN

The production 8 Series smoothens out much of the aggressive styling that was a feature of last year’s concept to present a more elegant homage to the original halo coupé. It features a long, low nose with a narrow take on BMW’S kidney grille and a double-bubble roof that slopes gently to a notch tail sporting large trapezoidal exhaust tips.

LIGHT & WEIGHT

The 8’s standard headlamps are LED units but customers can upgrade to laser lights. A Carbon Package featuring carbon- bre-reinforced plastic for the intakes, mirror caps, rear spoiler and diffuser is also offered. Comfort and regulatory requirements do, however, mean it is 30 kg heavier than the outgoing 650i Coupé.

EXECUTIVE POWERS

The 8 Series will initially offer the option of two powerplants. The M850i xdrive features a 4,4-litre, twinturbo-petrol V8 coupled with an eight-speed automatic gearbox feeding all four corners. The 840d xdrive (presently a European-market model) features a 3,0-litre, twinturbo-diesel with the same eight-speed auto and AWD drivetrain.