RE: BMW M8 Gran Coupe on course for 2019 launch

RE: BMW M8 Gran Coupe on course for 2019 launch

Friday 29th March 2019

BMW M8 Gran Coupe spied: Update!

Refuse to carry the other half and kids around with less than 600hp? Bavaria's bringing a new option to the market



UPDATE - 29.03.2019

Oh to have been a spy photographer sat track side at the Nurbugring this week. There are so many high-performance models currently being thrashed there day in day out, you’d not be without cause for entertainment – especially if you prefer your cars of the V8 kind. BMW is busy testing both variants of its upcoming M8, the coupe and Gran Coupe, the latter of which has been the latest subject of attention for our snapper’s lens.

Making a return to the dry and warm climates of continental Europe after a winter in the Arctic Circle, BMW’s fleet of M8 Gran Coupe test cars appear to be well into their final phase of testing. High-speed track runs of cars with minimal camouflage normally signal that settings are being signed off and final analysis is being done on components. In the case of sporting cars from BMW, it often also includes a timed lap or two.


Because while this M8 variant is the extra practical more-door version of Bavaria’s 600hp plus super coupe, it’ll still be expected to perform in the manner of a red-blooded M division model. That’s why any adjustment to the suspension in order to make this model ready to carry heavier loads are likely being done so this inevitably weightier version offers all of the same handling characteristics.

Don’t expect more than a tenth or two to be added to the Gran Coupe’s 0-62mph time in comparison to the two-door, either, because the M8’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 will provide more punch than the M5’s and utilise its own take on the M-division all-wheel drive system – the one that provides a rear bias at all times and can be switched to pure rear-wheel drive mode at the touch of a button.

It’s likely that the M8 Gran Coupe will be launched after its two-door sister, but with the latter due very soon, we’re expecting to see the more-door car on roads well ahead of the year’s close. A convertible version of the two-door should also squeeze in before 2020, too, with BMW likely keen to get a full line-up of M8s into showrooms in order to really shake up this end of the market. On that note, don’t expect much change back from £140,000 for the cheapest M8.



ORIGINAL STORY - 14.02.2019


If you want proof that the job of an automotive testing engineer isn't all numbers and bar charts, here it is. Shots of the upcoming BMW M8 Gran Coupe being driven in our favourite manner: with a handful of opposite lock during a neat corner-exit slide. It's only natural, of course, given the climatic conditions of the Arctic Circle and the hardware within this four-door BMW.

Like the Gran Coupe version of the regular 8, we expect the four-door M8 to stick with the same powertrain and driveline as its coupe sibling. That means an engine of 4.4-litres and eight cylinders, arranged in diagonally opposed banks, producing at least 600hp - we know the latter because BMW said so and, well, it needs at least that to match the M5. Even with the minimum figure, it's a setup that out punches the Porsche Panamera Turbo's and places the BMW neck-and-neck with the AMG GT 4-Door.


Underneath the M8 Gran Coupe, there'll be a version of the M division's adjustable all-wheel drive system (as used by the M5 and upcoming X3 M and X4 M) that provides the rears with more torque at all times. But, as we know, the system's party piece is its ability to essentially decouple the front axle from the driveline - via multi-plate clutch technology - and turn the car into a rear driver. Added to that, the M8 Gran Coupe will feature all of the same drive modes as the two-door M car, just now you can take more friends along for the ride.

With that in mind, it's inevitable that the Gran Coupe will put on a few pounds thanks to its two extra doors, plus the weight distribution might shuffle backwards a little. As such, this more practical variant will no doubt get bespoke settings for its suspension to prepare for the additional carrying capacity. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean the four-door will be significantly softer; as we know, BMW's M department boffins are rather good at masking a car's weight.


The Gran Coupe, which is due on roads late this year, soon after the non-M model, mixes the front end and exterior design details of the two-door with that slightly elongated roofline. There's certainly no shortage of global demand for a four-door with supercar performance, a muscular soundtrack and a grown-up demeanour - see Porsche Panamera sales and the orders flooding in for AMG's rival. Only question is, which of the options would you go for?


Author
Discussion

flatso

Original Poster:

1,240 posts

128 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
quotequote all
Good looking beast the 8er GC, I wonder if the new corporate hydronephrotic kidney grille will make it onto this.

cerb4.5lee

30,194 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
quotequote all
Those exhaust tail pipes look lovely and meaty and I like those a lot. I don't think that the side profile of this looks quite as good as the old 6GC.

Scott-R

96 posts

104 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
quotequote all
Slight pedantry note, but the current M5 has a 4WD system, not an AWD system. I would imagine the same will apply to this M8

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
quotequote all
I like the look of this - wonder if it will be a hatch or true 4 door? Also I’ve never seen such a convoluted way to say “V8”

derin100

5,214 posts

242 months

Thursday 14th February 2019
quotequote all
flatso said:
Good looking beast the 8er GC, I wonder if the new corporate hydronephrotic kidney grille will make it onto this.
Spy pictures suggest a successful TURP has been undertaken.

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Friday 15th February 2019
quotequote all
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?

Exige77

6,518 posts

190 months

Friday 15th February 2019
quotequote all
hondansx said:
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?
The 8 series replaces the 6 series. They are not for sale side by side.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 15th February 2019
quotequote all
hondansx said:
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?
This new 8 series replaces the old 6 series, of which there were coupe 2dr and gran coupe 4dr versions. The new/current 6 series (5dr hatch) replaces the old 5 series GT.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 15th February 2019
quotequote all
So...

This new 8 (along with the forthcoming 4 dr referred to in the article)....



Replaces the old 6s..





And the new/current 6....



Replaced the old 5GT...


hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Monday 18th February 2019
quotequote all
Thanks peeps! Assumed the '8' meant it was meant to be sector above a 6 series.

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 19th February 2019
quotequote all
hondansx said:
Thanks peeps! Assumed the '8' meant it was meant to be sector above a 6 series.
It is. Drive one compared to the other an there is a marked difference.

sgtbash

702 posts

135 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
Scott-R said:
Slight pedantry note, but the current M5 has a 4WD system, not an AWD system. I would imagine the same will apply to this M8
Ive noticed a few problems with the storys this particular reporter writes up, little things each time but mistakes none the less.

Fiesta1.0L

97 posts

97 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
hondansx said:
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?
About 30 grand /s

HighwayStar

4,216 posts

143 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
Fiesta1.0L said:
hondansx said:
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?
About 30 grand /s
The 8 series is also smaller/shorter than the 6.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
sgtbash said:
Scott-R said:
Slight pedantry note, but the current M5 has a 4WD system, not an AWD system. I would imagine the same will apply to this M8
Ive noticed a few problems with the storys this particular reporter writes up, little things each time but mistakes none the less.
I know you aren't a reporter, but at least his grammar and punctuation make some sense hehe

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

187 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
I've been watching Mat Watson's Carwow videos where he's been driving an 8 series recently (started with the diesel now in the petrol) and they both just seem a bit...dull?

Meanwhile in the last fortnight a neighbour up the road has bought an old 840i in a bright blue shade, it looks sublime. That missing B-pillar just makes the car look so cool.

But I guess I'm not the target market for this kind of car so what does it matter!

sgtbash

702 posts

135 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
I know you aren't a reporter, but at least his grammar and punctuation make some sense hehe
I'd agree, however look at the articles very first sentence. laughlaugh

housen

2,366 posts

191 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
cant wait for next week on pistonheads

can we have more than 5 cars going round ring in camouflage

then pointless speculation !



oh and some more lego cars to ?


cheers

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
Fiesta1.0L said:
hondansx said:
Can someone help me out; what is the difference between a 6 series and 8 series? And aren't both available in 2 door and 4 door guises?
About 30 grand /s
And about 18mths.

tinnitusjosh

324 posts

71 months

Friday 29th March 2019
quotequote all
sgtbash said:
Ive noticed a few problems with the storys this particular reporter writes up, little things each time but mistakes none the less.
Now that is one sentence which you reeeeaaally needed to proof read biggrin