New 2019 BMW M8 Gran Coupe joins performance line-up
The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe range-topping four-door coupe arrives at Los Angeles with a 616bhp twin-turbo V8
The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe – the German brand’s latest rival to the Porsche Panamera Turbo - has made its public debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Motor Show. Like all of BMW’s most recent M-division vehicles, customers in the UK will only be offered the most potent Competition variant. Prices start from £120,935, with first deliveries expected to arrive in early 2020.
Exterior styling revisions over the standard 8 Series Gran Coupe include a set of lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels, an aggressive body kit, a new boot spoiler, a wider track and a unique active exhaust system with quad-exit tailpipes. BMW has also fitted a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic roof, which provides the M8 Gran Coupe with a lower centre of gravity.
Under the bonnet sits BMW’s familiar twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine that develops 616bhp and 750Nm of torque. It sends its power to a rear-biased four-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which enables a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
BMW has also fitted the M8 Gran Coupe with a range of chassis upgrades, including adaptive dampers, larger brakes, an X-brace for the front suspension towers and an active limited slip differential. Like the new BMW M5, drivers can also disengage the M8 Gran Coupe’s front drive shaft and send all of the engine’s power to the rear wheels.
Inside, buyers get a pair of electrically adjustable leather-trimmed sports seats, a sports steering wheel, carbon fibre interior trim, an ambient interior lighting system, a 10.25-inch infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument binnacle with a range of M-specific menus and readouts. BMW’s parking assistant is also fitted as standard, which includes a rear view camera.
Buyers can use the M8’s infotainment system to individually configure the characteristics of their car’s engine, transmission, chassis, traction control and steering systems. The M8 Gran Coupe can store two unique configurations at a time, while BMW’s own “M” setup can be selected by pushing a button on the car’s centre console.
The BMW M8 Gran Coupe can be specced with an exhaustive range of standard safety equipment. Additions include active cruise control, lane keeping assist with active side collision protection and a wrong-way warning. Buyers can also spec BMW’s Laserlight LED headlights, which generates a high-beam range of up to 600 metres.
Other optional extras include carbon ceramic brakes, additional alloy wheel designs and BMW M Driver’s package, which raises the car’s top speed to 190mph.
Elsewhere, buyers can spec ventilated seats, leather and Alcantara upholstery, electrically operated sun blinds, four-zone automatic climate control and a 16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
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