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The 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe barely needs an introduction, but we're here to give you one anyway. The rear-wheel drive 840i and 840i xDrive are both powered by BMW's 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 335 hp and 368 lb-ft torque. The M850i xDrive gets a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. All 8 Series Gran Coupes wear bodywork distinct from the coupe aft of the A-pillar, and dimensions stretched wide enough in the back that the "four-door coupe" has the widest track of any BMW car.
Compared to the 8 Series coupe, the Gran Coupe wheelbase has been stretched 7.9 inches, the body spans an extra 9 inches in length, the roof stands 2.2 inches taller, and the rear track grows by 1.2 inches. BMW said it had to update the Dingolfing plant that will build the Gran Coupe to accommodate those hips. The RWD 840i rings up 4,262 pounds, the M850i goes heavyweight at 4,758 pounds. There would have been more largesse if not for measures such as the aluminum doors, hood, and roof and plastic decklid.
The windshield is a tad more upright, explaining that taller roof and providing more headroom for all passengers. The backlight, on the other hand, has more rake than on the coupe in order to allow a larger trunk opening. That seems counterintuitive, but we'll trust the designers on this one. There's a "subtle flying buttress design" in the metalwork around the rear glass that incorporates finishing folds that need to be done by hand. So each 8 Series Gran Coupe will be unique.
A standard panoramic glass roof with moonroof omits the shark fin antenna thanks to having a multi-function antenna integrated into the rear window. That skyward panorama is interrupted in the cabin by a crossbar, but occupants should still enjoy plenty of light. There are four contoured seats, although we're told there's enough space for a fifth passenger between the two rear thrones. Come November this year, a carbon fiber roof will join the options list for the M850i.
Nappa leather comes standard on the dashboard and door panel uppers. Both 840 interiors get stitched up with Vernasca leather in either Black, Ivory White or Cognac. The M850i goes for Individual Extended Merino Leather instead, in Black, Ivory White, Cognac or two-tone options Night Blue/Black, Tartufo/Black or Fiona Red/Black. A BMW Individual Full Merino package can be specced on all three. A touch more interior sheen comes courtesy of electroplated air vent surrounds, door trim quilting and ambient lighting.
The latest Live Cockpit Professional appears on the 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel, the latest heads-up display hangs just over the hood in the driver's line of sight, the latest iDrive illuminates the 10.25-inch screen on the instrument panel. The extended center console runs into the rear compartment, providing back-seaters with individual right and left climate controls, air vents, USB ports, and storage trays.
As for performance, the 840i can do the dash to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds; the 840i xDrive shaves that to 4.6 seconds. The M850i, thanks to its better gumption, needs just 3.7 seconds. The M850i also separates itself from the siblings with standard M kit like 20-inch M V-Spoke wheels, performance run-flat tires, M Sport brakes and differential, Adaptive M Suspension, Integral Active Steering, Active Roll Stabilization, and M Sport exhaust. The 840 models start off on 18-inch wheels, with 19- and 20-inch wheels optional.
Available at dealers come September this year, pricing starts at $84,990 for the RWD 840i, plus $995 destination, for a total of $85,985. The 840i xDrive will run $88,795, the M850i xDrive will require $109,895 of your hard-earned.
how is it that bmw can make a high powered car with fold down rear seats, and Lexus can't even make one.
Just as lexus finally caught up with touch screens, maybe one day the entire lineup will have fold down rear seats again.... in the name of convenience and usability.
how is it that bmw can make a high powered car with fold down rear seats, and Lexus can't even make one
Part of it is the car's engineering goals, and how much the designers think the vehicle's prospect buyers will actually want fold-down rear seats. In general, having rear seats that are fixed in place usually means more-solid-bracing for the unibody-structure (and greater resistance to torsional-bending) than fold-down seats, which open more potential cargo room, but also remove that extra bracing.
how is it that bmw can make a high powered car with fold down rear seats, and Lexus can't even make one.
Just as lexus finally caught up with touch screens, maybe one day the entire lineup will have fold down rear seats again.... in the name of convenience and usability.
Good question. I've had sedans whose rear seats fold down (Audi and BMW) and both of them were very solid with no creaks or rattles at all. The rear seat structures and latches are heavy and robust. We don't fold them down regularly but it is nice, when needed, we can drop them down and carry larger items.
Good question. I've had sedans whose rear seats fold down (Audi and BMW) and both of them were very solid with no creaks or rattles at all. The rear seat structures and latches are heavy and robust. We don't fold them down regularly but it is nice, when needed, we can drop them down and carry larger items.
They’re also nice when they’re nice square openings the size of the fold down seats not some weird trapezoid shape like some cars... I wish my Gs had the option to have that color interior too. I will say bmw is the best in interior color options and actually having a truly “fully loaded” customizable option, not the preset options Toyota has
In an CUV/SUV tall wagon dominated market, interesting how the Germans think it is fit for separate full size luxury sedans in the S Class/7 Series/A8, and separate full size sporting-luxury sedans in the AMG GT 4 Door Coupe, 8 Series Gran Coupe, and rumoured A9 Fastback.
Understandably, Toyota Motor Corp not only holds back on a separate dedicated full size sporting luxury sedan, TMC even holds back on coupes, preferring to rebadge a Subaru BRZ into a Toyota GT86, as well as rebadge a BMW Z4 into a Toyota Supra.
All done for the sake of maximizing money I guess.
A firewall behind the rear seat backrest with a ski-port will always have superior strength to weight ratio than having no rear firewall whatsoever.
The ski-port will meet 90% of consumer needs.
I would have purchased a GS450h for its bottom end torque and efficiency - if it at least had a ski-port; can't wait till they sandwich the battery pack under the rear seat base like new Camry Hybrid and ES300h.
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Last edited by peteharvey; Jun 20, 2019 at 02:23 PM.
It looks good but I really don’t like the back end when viewed from the side. It looks funny to me. The 6 Series Gran Coupe looked better from that angle but overall it’s a nice car.
how is it that bmw can make a high powered car with fold down rear seats, and Lexus can't even make one.
Just as lexus finally caught up with touch screens, maybe one day the entire lineup will have fold down rear seats again.... in the name of convenience and usability.
Is this some kind of Japanese thinking of what a "Luxury" car should have? Way back when we owned both a Honda Accord and an Acura CL, even though the Acura was basically just a tarted up Accord, it somehow didn't have fold down rear seats, but our Accord did. I can't believe its for structural integrity reasons, because the Accord was rattle free.
It's extra annoying when you figure that the ES cant have fold down seats because of the X bracing for rigidity, but the Avalon has folding seats even though its on the same platform.
Easy, make the car more rigid using other methods, and include folding seats.
I just don't buy the structural integrity rigidity argument. If BMW can do it, anyone else can too. You don't see bmw's twisting out of shape, and bmw's are made to be driven like they're stolen.
Especially with the average underwhelming 14-15 cubic feet capacity trunks, cars need fold down seats and rigidity. Not either/or. Both.
A trunk glory hole is enough for 90% of customers?
When I do home depot lumber runs, I can't even fit 10 sticks of lumber through that hole. So I actually need to remove the back seat and remove the stupid x-brace on my 2003 ES.
90% of customers don't even drive in such a way that needs extra bracing behind the rear seat. They need to stop making flimsy frames if they worry about rigidity.
The IS has a pretty stiff structure, yet offers split folding rear seats. That's the only Lexus sedan that does. So with their other sedans, it's not that they can't, it's just that they don't. Silly. It's not important to me, but it is to many. Lexus should offer it.
As for the 8 series, I agree with the others. The 4 door version looks much better.
2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
