New 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe completes line-up
The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has arrived to rival the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS
The final model in the BMW 8 Series line-up has been revealed in the shape of the Gran Coupe. The Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS rival is available to order now, priced from £69,340, with first deliveries due in September.
The looks of the new model don’t come as a great surprise, because the Gran Coupe shares a clear link with the two-door Coupe and Cabriolet versions. That means a long, swoopy silhouette while keeping the existing 8 Series front and rear designs.
The Gran Coupe has a 201mm longer wheelbase than the Coupe in order to accommodate the extra pair of doors, and is 231mm longer overall. A more steeply raked windscreen flows into a roofline that’s 61mm higher than on the two-door variants, while the bodywork around the rear arches flares out by an extra 30mm to make room for its wider track.
Inside, the Gran Coupe looks the same as the other 8 Series models up front. That means there’s a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. The latter is touch-sensitive, but also features voice and gesture controls, plus BMW’s more traditional iDrive control wheel. Other standard kit includes wireless charging, heated seats front and rear, and a digital display key that allows the user to monitor the fuel level and whether or not the windows are open. LED headlights are standard, too.
The big interior changes begin at the centre console, which now extends to the back seats. It features two USB ports and climate functions for those sat in the back.
BMW calls the Gran Coupe a 4+1; there’s space for five, but given that the third rear passenger needs to straddle that centre console, it’s a seat best reserved for shorter journeys. Leg and headroom are significantly improved compared with the 8 Series Coupe and Cabriolet, though, and boot space is up by 20 litres, at 440 litres.
The Gran Coupe’s extra bodywork means that it’s 70kg heavier than two-door. To compensate for this, BMW has tweaked the standard-fit M Sport springs and adaptive dampers to suit.
Under the bonnet there’s a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines. The 840i uses a 335bhp 3.0-litre straight-six turbo, which delivers a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds. The 840d xDrive uses a 316bhp 3.0-litre straight six and four-wheel drive to hit 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. The range-topping M850i xDrive offers up 523bhp and 750Nm from its twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. It covers the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9 seconds – two tenths down on the Coupe. All Gran Coupes are limited to 155mph.
Click here for our full in-depth review of the new BMW 8 Series...
