BMW 8 Series Coupe
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
BMW refreshed the 8 series lineup in 2022, after four years since the car’s initial launch in 2018.
It was a mild facelift for the car that revived a ’90s nameplate in the German carmaker stable.
After BMW revived the 6 series in 2003 and used that name for two generations, it continued with the 8, resembling one of the greatest GT vehicles made by the Bavarian brand. With all the dots connected, the 2022 model came as its non-facelifted version in three flavors: coupe, convertible, and gran coupe (four doors).
The car came with the same elongated silhouette and a sloped roofline that emerged to the trunk lid for the coupe version. In addition, BMW offered an option for a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof. A double-bubble design was also adopted, with a central indentation that crossed the car from the windscreen to the rear window. Starting with the 2022 model, all 8-Series models came fitted with an M-package, with a V-shaped center grille in the bumper flanked by two wide scoops that channeled the air to the front discs. On the sides, behind the wheel-wells, BMW installed extracting vents.
The classic dashboard layout with a rectangular instrument cluster and a driver-oriented center stack featured two digital displays: a TFT for the dials and gauges and a touch-screen for the infotainment unit. The tall center console separated the front seats, creating a single-seat sensation for the driver.
Under the hood, surprisingly, BMW still offered a turbodiesel version for its elegant and fast grand tourer. Yet, it enhanced it with a hybrid system to get lower CO2 emissions, in line with the 2022 requirements. Power went to the rear or both axles, depending on the version.
Unveiled as a higher end replacement of its 6 Series Coupe predecessor, the second-generation BMW 8 Series Coupe and the first modern iteration of the “8” moniker was unveiled in 2018.
Despite the new nomenclature it has adopted and its increased price range, the model’s size and features are reminiscent of the previous 6 Series. Going head-to-head with established luxury 2+2 grand tourers like the Bentley Continental GT or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, the new BMW 8 Series Coupe play the performance card instead of all-out luxury.
Built at BMW’s Dingolfing plant alongside the BMW 7 Series, the luxury coupe is part of a three-model family that includes a convertible versions and a four-door coupe. Depending on engine version, the 8 Series is available with either an intelligent xDrive AWD system or with rear-wheel-drive on the entry-level models. Turbocharged inline-six gasoline and diesel engines are available, with the top models being exclusively powered by twin-turbocharged gasoline V8 powerplants. Despite going against true luxury coupes that come without a B-pillar, the 8 Series Coupe has one, with the rear side windows being fixed. While a bit low to offer ample head room, especially for the rear passengers, the roof can be optionally ordered in carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP), which is not only the first such option on a production BMW but also helps lower the model’s center of gravity.