Tuesday 20th September 2016

BMW 8 Series spy shots

6 Series out and 8 Series in as BMW's big coupe moves upmarket

---

To quite a few BMW fans, the 8 Series remains something of a highpoint. The styling was fantastic, the refinement was exemplary and, particularly in 850 CSi guise, it was pretty good to drive too. It would take a brave person to take on a used one now, but the old E31 retains considerable appeal.

Camo can't hide it being a big old thing!

In the same way that sportier 6 made way for more luxurious 8 in the 1990s, so the same will happen a quarter of a century later. It goes to show in fact just how upmarket the 8 Series will move than the outgoing 6 Series - hardly a lithe sports car - will be made to look the less opulent model.

From what we can see here and what is known so far the 8 Series will rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe and Bentley Continental GT, rather than cars like the Maserati GranTurismo and Mercedes CLS that the 6 Series competes against. So expect more luxury, with the car moving up to the realm of a 7 Series sized coupe rather than 5.

Interesting details to note from this car include a grille and exhausts that look production ready, plus a big bonnet and some chunky overhangs too. One to be pitched at the American market? It's been suggested that this car will borrow from the Pininfarina Vision Gran Lusso concept, which looks a very good base from which to build a range topping coupe. Three years old now, that concept is surely due some proper production influence.

As the camo implies though, this car is a fair way from the showroom. Our sources have suggested 2019, so there's still time to get a 6 Series or M6 should you desperately want one. More news when we have it!

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[PHMatt]

I like the 6, but always been hopelessly in love with the old 8.
Story states it's a risk to buy one, but I reckon the E31 will appreciate over time.

They've already gone up over the last few years.

[Löyly]

fking hell, those overhangs.

[Zad]

Are you sure it isn't a Mustang with plastic BMW kidneys glued to the front?

[ZesPak]

Too early to see but it has a long way to go to look anything as nice as the S coupe.

[derin100]

Zad said:

Are you sure it isn't a Mustang with plastic BMW kidneys glued to the front?

I agree! That whole nose and bonnet doesn't look like something that would have been passed at BMW as acceptable for a stylish new grand touring coupe.

[Ares]

Factor in the Gran Lusso and stylised influences of the new 7 and it could be beautiful.

Or it could look like a tank.

[ZesPak]

derin100 said:

I agree! That whole nose and bonnet doesn't look like something that would have been passed at BMW as acceptable for a stylish new grand touring coupe.

This is the company currently selling the 2 GT, 3GT and 5GT, in, made the x1, x3 and the first 1 series.

This seems perfectly acceptable. After all, you'd need room for improvement with the face-lift and subsequent models.

[Ninja59]

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Gran Coupe, out of all the 6 models if previous figures I saw were correct the GC was the best seller of the 6.

From what I have heard elsewhere as well the 5GT will becoming the 6GT.

As for the comment about the 5 I think the 6 comes closer to the 7 than the 6 in terms of size, biggest problem with the 6GC really is parking though.

[derin100]

ZesPak said:

derin100 said:

I agree! That whole nose and bonnet doesn't look like something that would have been passed at BMW as acceptable for a stylish new grand touring coupe.

This is the company currently selling the 2 GT, 3GT and 5GT, in, made the x1, x3 and the first 1 series.

This seems perfectly acceptable. After all, you'd need room for improvement with the face-lift and subsequent models.

Granted, true about those current ones listed which really aren't 'lookers'. But hardly acceptable as a second incarnation of the 8-Series? If it really is going to resemble the profile of those spy shots...not that I could afford a new one...I'm happy to stick with my E31 for yet another 11 years!

(gratuitous picture whoring shot! )

[g3org3y]

Ares said:

Factor in the Gran Lusso and stylised influences of the new 7 and it could be beautiful.

Or it could look like a tank.

Indeed. It would be nice for BMW to produce something elegant for a change.

*fingers crossed*

[Oz83]

No pop up headlamps = not interested.

[Atmospheric]

This may be ugly.

The E31 was a truly wonderful looking car.

An 850CSI with a 6 speed manual is the pinnacle. Interestingly that had four wheel steering.

Edited by Atmospheric on Wednesday 21st September 00:15

[Vee12V]

About as bad as the PH redesign.

[jamieduff1981]

Oh dear - it looks like they've let someone from BMW style it.

[Uncle Ron]

Brave person who buys a new one at £100k plus with the likely depreciation!

[garyjpaterson]

[quote=Löyly]fking hell, those overhangs.
[/quote]

I bet without the camo the overhangs would look perfectly normal. Overhangs in most cars these days are generally massive, though are often well disguised. This is usually done by 'rounding' off the corners, and having lights and grilles etc. 'wrapping' round the side of the car, making the empty space between the wheelarch and front features appear smaller.

With the camo, it allows us to see the full length of the overhangs without us be tricked into thinking they are shorter.

Don't know why the quote doesn't work.

[CRA1G]

Here's my two eight's....



Don't think i want three....

[Ares]

Ninja59 said:

biggest problem with the 6GC really is parking though.

It's a doddle to park. Multi sensors as standard. Most also coming with camera and surround vision. Granted, 20" wheels and 30-profile tyres do increase the heart rate!

Beyond that, it's a car that parks as easy as any other. A Mondeo hire car I had for 3 hours was far harder to park.

[Usget]

CRA1G said:

Here's my two eight's....



Don't think i want three....

That's quite a garage!

[CRA1G]

Usget said:

That's quite a garage!

and it can be a quiet one..!