We saw it first earlier this year at the 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy, but BMW thought it deserved a North American premiere as well, so the BMW Concept 8 Series shared the spotlight last week in Monterey with the brand new BMW Concept Z4. While clearly a concept car, the Concept 8 Series carries many of the design elements BMW will present when the second-generation BMW 8 Series hits the market next year.
The BMW Concept 8 Series had its continental debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Then on Sunday it appeared on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance along with the BMW Concept Z4 Roadster that BMW revealed to the world last weekend.
The upcoming 8 Series will take its place atop BMW's lineup as the company's flagship luxury coupe, taking over from the BMW 6 Series that now only includes Convertible and Gran Coupe versions. The new 8 is important to BMW's strategy.
“The number 8 and cars like the Z8 Roadster and i8 have represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” explained BMW AG Board of Management Chairman Harald Krüger. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”
BMW said that the BMW Concept 8 Series is a preview of the coupe to come. Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group head of design commented, “The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine. It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.”
For true coupe lovers, the Concept 8 Series hits most of the right notes. It is long and low and wide with a long, flowing hood and a roofline that screams traditional two-door coupe. There is no mistaking this car as anything other than a BMW.
“The design of the BMW Concept 8 Series provides a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW styling cues,” said van Hooydonk. “And it also showcases a new approach to the use of forms which is reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing. A handful of crisp lines mark out clear surfaces, and the car’s volumes are powerfully sculpted. Together, these elements make a forceful statement and create a model brimming with character. In short, this is a driver’s car.”
The BMW Concept 8 Series is finished in an exclusive paint called Barcelona Grey Liquid.
The traditional kidney grilles are reinterpreted on this car, being lower to the road with an inverted appearance. The grilles get wider as they get lower and have a single surround. The side air intakes in the front apron continue BMW's newer tradition of bigger and bigger air scoops.
The low and sculptured rear end is also good news for hard-core coupe fans, since a short rear deck is more traditional in the breed. The wide, L-shaped LED taillights also continue BMW's latest trend to make the back look wider and sportier. The rear exhaust pipes are trapezoidal, which also continues a recent BMW styling trend in its concept cars that may or may not carry over to the production version.
The BMW Concept 8 Series uses Dark Brown Merino and Fjord White leather on the inside, offset by carbon fiber and hand-polished aluminum trim. The gearshift lever and the iDrive Controller are made from faceted Swarovski crystal, because this is supposed to be a top-end luxury car after all.
We know that new model development takes years and admittedly, seeing camouflaged test cars might get old after a while. As BMW enthusiasts we appreciate these design concepts that keep our interest and provide some relief as we wait for the new models to become real. If the next-generation 8 Series Coupe looks as nice as the concept, it will not only be real, but real good.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
