The BMW 8 Series is an all-wheel-drive luxury coupe of the Gran Turismo class, combining (in the words of the German automaker itself) “the character of a race car and the style of a true gentleman” ... It is addressed to successful people with a high annual income who “in nothing do not deny themselves "and love to personally be behind the wheel and enjoy driving ...
The serial version of the second generation car (in-plant designation "G15") made its official debut on June 15, 2018 - as part of a special event held at the race track in Le Mans, France. However, her conceptual forerunner of the same name was presented to the world community back in May 2017 - at the Italian Villa d'Este elegance competition.
Thus, the large coupe of the "eighth series" returned to the BMW model range after a 19-year break, actually replacing the two-door "six" on the conveyor.
The appearance of the "second" BMW 8-series is subordinated to the new design trend of the Bavarian brand - the car really catches the eye, flaunting graceful, expressive and squat outlines.
The front view of the car literally exudes aggression - the predatory gaze of narrow LED headlights, fused "nostrils" of the radiator grille and an impressive bumper with huge air intakes.
Yes, and from other angles, the two-door looks stunning: a swift silhouette with a long hood, sloping roofline, expressive sidewalls and powerful strokes of wheel arches and a wide stern with elegant lanterns, a "muscular" bumper and two impressive trapezoidal exhaust pipes.
"Eight" of the second embodiment is elongated by 4851 mm in length, does not exceed 1902 mm in width and 1346 mm in height. The wheelbase of the coupe is 2822 mm, and its ground clearance is 121 mm (the top-end petrol version has 128 mm).
In the "stowed" state, the car weighs from 1830 to 1890 kg (depending on the version).
The interior of the BMW 8-Series G15 looks beautiful, impressive and progressive, and its lines are sporty.
In the direct control of the driver - a relief multi-steering wheel with a three-spoke rim and a virtual instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch display. The center console is crowned with a color screen of the iDrive 7.0 media center with a diagonal of 10.25 inches, under which laconic blocks of "microclimate" (with a small display between the ventilation deflectors) and audio systems flaunt.
As befits a car of this class, its decoration is distinguished by impeccable ergonomics, exceptionally noble finishing materials (expensive leather, natural wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, etc.) and the highest quality workmanship.
The two-door salon has a strictly four-seater layout - a "bench" is installed here, molded for two people, with small "outgrowths" of the headrests, but the free space is limited (especially in the legs and above the head).
But the front riders find themselves in the tight embrace of sports seats with a well-developed side profile, optimal filler rigidity, a variety of electrical adjustments and other "benefits of civilization."
Practicality is not alien to the "eight" of the second generation - in its normal state its trunk is able to "absorb" 420 liters of luggage (but it has an intricate shape with a narrow opening). In the basic configuration, the two-door has a backrest of the second row of seats divided into two equal sections, which folds into a flat area and opens a "window" for transporting long items.
For the BMW 8 Series of the second generation, two modifications are announced, which are equipped with an 8-band Steptronic Sport "automatic" with paddle shifters and an all-wheel drive xDrive transmission with a multi-plate clutch that connects the wheels of the front axle (and the petrol version also has electronic rear differential lock):
- Initial release 840d xDrive Powered by a 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder diesel engine with a turbocharger, common rail fuel injection and a 24-valve timing structure, generating 320 horsepower at 4400 rpm and 680 Nm of torque at 1750-2250 rpm.
With such a "heart", the coupe exchanges the second "hundred" after 4.9 seconds, gains maximum 250 km / h (due to the electronic "collar"), and in mixed mode "destroys" about 6.2 liters of fuel for every 100 km of run. - "Top" performance M850i xDrive contains under the hood a gasoline 4.4-liter "eight" with a V-shaped architecture, two turbochargers located in the collapse of the block, a throttle-free mixture formation system, direct "power" and a variable valve timing mechanism, developing 530 hp at 5500-6000 rpm and 750 Nm of torque at 1800-4600 rpm.
Such a car "catapults" from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.7 seconds, accelerates to a maximum of 250 km / h, and in combined conditions consumes 10.5 liters of fuel for every "hundred" of the way.
The second generation BMW 8-Series is based on the modular CLAR platform, and its body structure is widely used in high-strength steels and aluminum (the latter is used for the roof, hood, front wall and doors). In addition, the central tunnel at the two-door is made of carbon fiber, and the cross member under the front panel is made of magnesium alloy.
Independent suspensions are mounted on both axles of the car (front - double wishbone, rear - multi-link) with adaptive shock absorbers and steel springs (for the petrol version, active anti-roll bars with electric actuators are available as an option).
As standard, the coupe is equipped with integral steering with a hydraulic booster, as well as a fully-steered chassis with a steering mechanism for the rear wheels (they can deviate by an angle of up to 2.5 degrees: at speeds up to 88 km / h in opposition to the front wheels, and above - in the same direction) ...
All modifications of the machine are endowed with ventilated disc brakes "in a circle" (monoblock four-piston calipers are installed in the front, single-piston calipers with a floating caliper at the rear) and a lot of electronic "lotions".
In the Russian market, the BMW 8-Series in 2018 can be purchased at a price of 6,600,000 rubles - that much will have to be paid for the diesel modification of the 840d xDrive.
Nominally, the two-door has in its asset: front and side airbags, 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, laser headlights, electric drive and ventilation of the front seats, heated steering wheel, armrests and seats, a car park, a virtual instrument cluster, a media center with a navigator, rear-view camera, adaptive suspension, full-steering chassis, door closers, high-quality audio system with 16 speakers and other "chips".
The "top" modification of the M850i xDrive costs at least 8,290,000 rubles, and its features (in addition to a more powerful gasoline engine) are: 20-inch wheels, M-package (external and internal styling), electronically controlled rear differential lock and some other equipment.
