BMW claims to have added “more style, excitement and elegance” to the coupé, cabriolet and Gran Coupé versions of its new 8 Series.
Priced from £72,225, order books for the 2022 8 Series are now open with the German company confirming that first deliveries will take place this Spring.
For this mid-life refresh, designers have focused on different aspects of the cars’ exterior elements. Previously an option, all three versions benefit from the now standard ‘M Sports’ package.
As part of this pack an “aerodynamically optimised” bumper is joined by 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels depending on engine on top of side skirts and a rear diffuser that is finished in ‘Dark Shadow’ metallic.
The upgraded brakes on 6-cylinder cars are marked out by their blue colour and , agian, depending on engine size, power is either sent to the rear axle only or all four corners.
Adaptive LED headlights also feature as does BMW’s kidney grille that is backlit to create an “iconic glow”. The illumination is activated as soon as the vehicle is opened and can be switched on or off manually by the driver.
To mark the 50th anniversary of BMW M, buyers of the M850i xDrive models can request the BMW Motorsport badge be applied to the bonnet, tailgate and wheel hubs.
Options include BMW’s Laserlights that are bundled in with the ‘Visibility Pack’; utilising ‘Shadowline’ technology, this darkens the brow of the lens to enhance the vehicle’s road presence.
Further options come in the shape of four fresh body colours: ‘Skyscraper Grey’, ‘San Remo Green’, ‘M Portimao Blue’ and ‘Individual Frozen Tanzanite Blue’. Customers can also choose from a catalogue of cost-extra 20-inch M alloys.
Inside, the standard M Sports package introduces niceties such as an anthracite-coloured roof liner, stainless steel pedals and M-branded floor mats. Electronically operated multifunction seats come upholstered in ‘Individual Merino’ leather that is available in a variety of colours.
On the technology front the new 8 Series now gets BMW’s ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ – a set-up that consists of a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a multimedia display that has grown in size from 10.25-inches to 12.3 inches. The cabin also benefits from an uprated Harmon/Kardon speaker system and ‘Parking Assistant’ that combines a rear-view camera.
The standard 8 Series is powered by the same turbocharged, 3-litre straight-six petrol unit developing 333bhp in the 840i xDrive, a turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 with 523bhp in the M850i xDrive and a turbocharged 3-litre, in-line 6-cylinder diesel good for 335bhp in the 840d xDrive. These trio are all four-wheel-drive.
The twin-turbocharged, 4.4-litre V8 in the M8 remains capped at 592bhp, with the stealthier ‘Competition’ car pushing up power to 616bhp for a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds. Power is handled by the firm’s 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission.
