Due to a lack of supplies, the M8 coupe and convertible are leaving North America. “The decision is based on available inventory owing to the COVID-19 outbreak and its implications on dealership operations and sales,” explains BMW spokesman Oleg Satanovsky. But it’s possible that this won’t last forever, and it’s not universal.
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As the Father, So the Son?
Let’s go ahead to the present and the newly revived 8 Series. BMW engineers appear to have learned from their errors with the G15 generation. The 8 Series is no longer an outrageously costly, erratic outlier. Since it is built on the CLAR platform, which BMW debuted with the 2015 7 Series, it is actually very similar to any other BMW. Now, all body types—including the sought high-performance M8 variant, a four-door Gran Coupe sedan, and a convertible—are offered.
Prices range from from $85,000 for the entry-level six-cylinder 840i Gran Coupe sedan to more than $150,000 for the 0 to 60 mph M8 droptop. One might arguably say that BMW has produced the ideal grand tourer given its incredible performance, exceptional levels of comfort and luxury, and stunning aesthetics.
However, their goals for the original model remained the same. Additionally, the current model of the 8 Series doesn’t appear to be selling well, much like the first 8 Series. The Truth About Cars reports that only 4,410 cars were sold by BMW in the US and 6,640 in Europe last year. Additionally, according to Automotive News, the BMW dealers in North America have begun to become increasingly impatient. More than 2,000 unsold 8 Series sedans are currently parked in dealer parking lots, in their opinion, as a result of BMW’s poor marketing of the vehicle.
8 Series BMW
A line of grand tourer coupes and convertibles made by BMW is known as the 8 Series.
The E31 model number was used for the introduction of the 8 Series, which was exclusively offered as a two-door coupe. Several naturally aspirated V8 and V12 gasoline engines are used to power it. Although it was launched into production at the same time as the E24 6 Series, the E31 is not regarded as a straight replacement. Due to low sales, the E31 was discontinued in 1999.
Later, the second generation, G15 8 Series, which debuted in 2018, relaunched the model lineup. As the replacement for the F06/F12/F13 6 Series series, it debuted in coupe (G15), convertible (G14), and four-door Gran Coupe (G16) body styles. The G15 8 Series debuts an inline-six-diesel engine; later, the portfolio was expanded to include the high-performance BMW M8 trim and the luxury-inspired Alpina B8.
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Frank Weber, the chief technical officer at BMW, was extensively interviewed by Australia’s Which Car magazine. Nearly every topic of interest to BMW devotees, both new and old, was covered in the article, including the automaker’s design philosophy, halo cars, and how to keep cars modern when technology advances so quickly relative to vehicle generation cycles. However, out of the piece’s almost 1,700 words, about 47 words in one paragraph that have nothing to do with Weber have become the story: According to rumors, the 4 and 8 Series will be combined into a new 6 Series line by BMW product planners in 2026. According to the speculation, the 8 Series Gran Coupe will be the final vehicle from both lineups to survive. But because it will be incorporated into the 7 Series lineup, it won’t be an 8 Series anymore.
If this were to happen, it would be “simply little parts of history repeating,” as Shirley Bassey once sang. The first 6 Series model debuted in 1976 and remained a shark-nosed icon of stunning badassery until 1989. The first stunning but underwhelming 8 Series debuted in 1990 and persisted until persistent underwhelming sales led BMW to discontinue it in 1999. The 6 Series made a comeback in 2004, not quite as crisp as the first, but still able to captivate a very particular and committed audience. BMW would give the 6 a second generation before finally burying it in 2018 save for the lone 6 Series GT, which was essentially a renamed 5 Series GT. The 8 Series was later brought back to life by the Munich carmaker in 2018, but sales were much slower than before. So, if the rumor about a third act for the 6 Series is true, it will only be the most recent installment in a long-running story.
According to BMW Blog, it obtained this information from its own sources. On the other hand, the demise of the 4 Series could be justified as a result of coupe and convertible sales continuing their downward trends. On the one hand, as the BMW Blog notes, there will be significant technological and electrical advancements over the next four years that may change consumer preferences. However, 2026 is only four years away, which means BMW is definitely quite close to making a choice about the 4er.
Weber’s statement that the next New Class (NKL) platform, which will eventually support every BMW, may easily pave the way for “a highly-emotional car” may interest enthusiasts as well. This might be either an i8 rebirth or a production version of the Vision M Next, the unicorn hybrid or electric halo car that whisperers can’t stop talking about.
But don’t be hesitant to visit Which Car and read the entire interview; there’s a ton more there.
Should the BMW 8 Series Be Replaced?
It’s no secret that sales of the current version of the BMW 8 Series have been a little lackluster. The 8 Series is significantly at a disadvantage compared to the other vehicles in its price range because of its high starting price, handling of a large coupe, and an interior that doesn’t feel up to its price tag. Which is unfortunate because the 8er is a terrific big touring vehicle and has a nice exterior. After considering everything, should BMW continue to develop the 8 Series or abandon it and reduce its losses?
The 8 Series will most likely be discontinued by BMW at the end of current generation’s model year in order to make room for the next. According to what we’ve heard, there is ongoing discussion about the 8 Series’ replacement. The 8 Series Gran Coupe, the only model variety of the 8 Series that sells well, is said to have a chance of surviving, though. Additionally, shoppers appear to prefer sleek four-door vehicles over two-door coupes.
It is said that no replacement to the BMW 8 Series has yet received approval, which makes sense given that a new BMW platform will be introduced in 2025. Having said that, electrification may present the 8 Series with a completely new range of potential. BMW will have more freedom to experiment with new body shapes if it switches to entirely electric models because EV powertrains make creating new cars more simpler. Therefore, even if the current 8 Series is very probably coming to an end, the nameplate may continue in some form.
Even though the 8 Series isn’t truly deserving of continuing, it will be sad to see it go. The first-generation 8er, or E31 generation, was a cute but unreliable and expensive vehicle that didn’t receive a replacement until almost two decades later. Although the second-generation automobile isn’t quite as endearing as the first, it is still a nice vehicle that seemed to have so much potential while it was being developed.
To perfect the 8 Series, I do wish BMW would introduce a third generation, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. Hopefully, electrification will someday breathe fresh life into the nameplate.
The BMW M8 has it been retired?
The common M8 has since been retired. It was pretty much expected that BMW would reveal the updated 2023 8 Series shortly after revealing the high-performance M8.
When was the BMW 8 Series released?
The BMW Concept 8 Series, which made its premiere at the 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and included a fresh design language and iteration of the iDrive system, served as the inspiration for the 8 Series. On June 15, 2018, the production version was formally presented during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe, a high-performance four-door version of the 8 Series that was presented in June 2019, was later introduced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
A double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension are used by the 8 Series. The vehicle incorporates carbon fiber into its chassis using BMW’s Carbon Core technology. When approaching a junction, the 8-speed automatic transmission predicts upshifts or downshifts using GPS navigation data, and the engine start-stop system uses cameras and sensors to identify the proper shutdowns.
In November 2018, the 8 Series (G14) convertible model debuted. The convertible has a 15-second, foldable cloth cover that can operate at up to 50 km/h (31 mph). New cross struts, new panels for the underbody, and aluminum roll over bars for increased safety are some of the modifications made over the coupe. The M850i xDrive and 840d xDrive are the convertible’s first models. In comparison to the coupe, the convertible weights an additional 100 kg (220 lb).
The 8 Series Gran Coupe model was unveiled in June 2019 and started on sale that September. Although it has the same drivetrains as the coupe and convertible, it is the first 8 Series to be offered in the US with a six-cylinder engine.
What does the BMW 8 Series’ future hold?
A minor update for the high-performance M8 and 8-series models adds new paint colors, a larger infotainment screen, and a few minor aesthetic adjustments.
- For 2023, BMW upgraded the 8-series and M8 with a new grille that now includes illumination as standard.
- All 8-series and M8 models now come in new colors, and the main screen on all of them has increased from 10.3 inches to 12.3 inches.
- The interior color combination of black and Sakhir Orange is now available as an option for the M8 along with M Carbon bucket seats.
BMW brought back the 8-series nameplate in 2019 for a stylish coupe, convertible, and four-door “Gran Coupe” to sit at the top of the lineup after it had lain dormant since 1999. BMW has already unveiled a slight update for the 2023 8-series, including changes to the front end’s design, new color options, and some inside improvements.
The standard lighted grille, which also has bigger slats, is the main outward modification for the 8-series. Five new colors are available, including Skyscraper Grey, San Remo Green, Portimao Blue, BMW Individual Frozen Tanzanite Blue, and Frozen Pure Grey, along with two new 20-inch wheel designs.
The M850i xDrive variants now feature a M emblem in the grille and receive the aerodynamic sideview mirrors from the M8. Black brake calipers, a black rear spoiler, and dark M Shadowline trim are all included in the coupe’s new optional M Sport Package Professional.
Those M Shadowline accents in the headlights are standard on the M8, which is currently only offered in 617-hp Competition form. Brooklyn Grey and Isle of Man Green have been added to the M8’s palette of five colors, which also includes Portimao Blue and San Remo Green. The M8 can be ordered with M Carbon bucket seats inside that are heated, electronically adjustable, have a light-up M8 insignia in the headrest, and have a memory feature for the driver’s seat (first seen on the M3 and M4). A brand-new black and Sakhir Orange color scheme is also available for the Merino leather and Alcanatara inside.
A new 12.3-inch center infotainment display is added to all 8-series variants, including the M8. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of BMW M, the M850i xDrive and M8 can optionally be ordered with the vintage BMW Motorsport logo in place of the contemporary BMW insignia. Additionally, BMW has shown an exclusive 8 X Jeff Koons version that will come with an eye-catching paint job created by the American artist using a total of eleven colors. It’ll be made public on February 17.
BMW has not yet disclosed pricing for the remainder of the lineup, but the 840i’s base price remains the same for 2023. Beginning in March, the 8-series and M8 of 2023 will be produced.
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