BMW’S amazing super Gran
THE BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe is based on the wonderful 8-Series Coupe but has more rear legroom and a bigger boot and, as you can see, four doors. Mercedes-benz invented the four-door coupe with its CLS in 2004 and then BMW jumped in on the game in 2012 with its 6-Series Gran Coupe.the car we’re driving today is that car’s logical successor.
The Gran Coupe is cheaper than the two-door car by a couple of grand (more car for less money, that’s novel) and this 840i is the cheapest model.
There’s a diesel version called the 840d, a very ballsy M850i with a 523bhpv8 and at the top of the range there’s the full house M version that’s the 616bhp M8 Competition that costs a smidge over £120,000.
Our 840i is the only model that’s two-wheel drive which is a bonus because it’s a bit lighter. It’s confusing if you’re not a BMW nerd but the 840i has a 3.0-litre straight-six engine that produces 335bhp. It’s the same twin-turbo motor that powers the quickest Z4 and thetoyota Supra.and Morgan’s Plus Six, for that matter.a lovely engine that in the Gran Coupe makes a wonderfully subdued purr.
This car is almost an old-school BMW and if you really like BMS and have done for decades you’ll probably know what I mean.the era before BMW started making huge ugly SUVS (the X7) and pointless front-wheel drive hatchbacks (the 2-Series Activetourer).the only modern addition to the car, and it’s an option so can be deleted, is rear-wheel steering that our test car is fitted with.
The engine is very smooth and the gearbox sublimely slick. I didn’t bother using the steering wheel paddles because in lazy mode the gearbox is always in the correct gear for the situation.
T£67,905
Petrol – 3.0 335bhp 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds, 155mph top speed
8/10
HE CAR is not exactly a sports car but with the rear-wheel steering it turns in sharply and feels very stable.while 1.8 tonnes is not exactly light it’s beginning to feel that way when electric SUVS can weigh half a tonne more than that.
Slip inside and you will see the same interior layout as the 8-Series Coupe.an attractive spread of traditional dials, digital screens and knobs and switches.
The problem is that you’ll see more or less the same arrangement in a £25k 1-Series.this isn’t such a problem in the entry level model but if you’d paid £120,000 for the M8 you’d be wanting to see something a bit more special.
Something more like the interior of a Bentley.
The reason for buying the Gran Coupe over the even more sexy Coupe is revealed when you climb in the back.
The latter barely has enough legroom to justify the car being described as a 2+2 whereas matters in the Gran Coupe are much more knee-friendly.
Six-footers will have adequate legroom but might find headroom a bit of a problem and any passengers sat in the middle seat will find both an issue.
In short this car still has to be considered a part-time five-seater and not a proper long-haul luxury saloon.
But that’s fine. It’s a brilliant looking car that I will be buying for a couple of grand in 10 years’ time because historically cars like this depreciate really quickly.
27.0mpg
168g/km Mercedes-benz CLS, Audi A7, Porsche Panamera