[GioM3]

Happy to assume that same technology:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1385350

will be applied to lighter M8 (and will kick R8's ass).

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by GioM3

Happy to assume that same technology:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1385350

will be applied to lighter M8 (and will kick R8's ass).

If the M8 will be the M version of the GT 8 series, it will not compete against the R8.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by IS3andME

If the M8 will be the M version of the GT 8 series, it will not compete against the R8.

Not a direct competitor. But some will still make the assumption.
Just as in Europe we did see a 5er GT in a comparison with a Panamera.

[Faust]

Regarding M8, it's not going to be an R8, AMG GT competitor. It's going to be an uber luxurious 650+ HP(probably) GT Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible. An S-Class Coupe competitor.

Where I really have expectations for a sort of R8, AMG GT competitor is on the new 6 Series (not the GT crap). I believe it is still at conceptual level atm but if it comes to fruition it will probably be a production version of the 3.0 CSL concept which I'm really looking forward to see - more than any new or rumoured future BMW. I hope it really gets the green light.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Not a direct competitor. But some will still make the assumption.
Just as in Europe we did see a 5er GT in a comparison with a Panamera.

Scott, is the 8 gonna grow compared to the current 6 (4m89) and reach the 5m of the S Class Coupé? Incidentally, that would make for a 8GC almost as long as the 7, and naturally more expensive than the 7. Which means that after the deletion of the 6GC, BMW won't have quite a direct competitor to the CLS and A7 as those are based on the E Class and A6 (E segment) while the 8GC would be based on the 7, therefore more high end (the 6GC is already significantly more expensive than the CLS and A7), and since the still high and bulky 6GT (no low coupé) does not replace the void left by the 6GC.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by advantage20

Scott, is the 8 gonna grow compared to the current 6 (4m89) and reach the 5m of the S Class Coupé? Incidentally, that would make for a 8GC almost as long as the 7, and naturally more expensive than the 7. Which means that after the deletion of the 6GC, BMW won't have quite a direct competitor to the CLS and A7 as those are based on the E Class and A6 (E segment) while the 8GC would be based on the 7, therefore more high end (the 6GC is already significantly more expensive than the CLS and A7), and since the still high and bulky 6GT (no low coupé) does not replace the void left by the 6GC.

You have this exactly right. The current F13 6-Series has gone out of production with the F12 and the F06 going out one day soon too. BMW is not planning to replace the 6-Series with a new 6-Series generation. Well then what about the M6? There's not going to be a next M6. There's not going to be a direct competitor to the Merc CLS or Audi A7 either for many years to come now. Instead BMW heads in a different direction with the new 8-Series, looking to bring more luxury to its lineup and to have a direct competitor to the Merc S-Class Coupe, Audi has no competition in this space. The new 6GT will be a stand alone segment without any real competition either. It's probably just getting the 6 moniker because it will be a bit longer and a bit sleeker than a 5GT.

The new 8-Series will get a full model line up to include the 850i Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Convertible. And an M8 Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Convertible. The 8-Series will be bigger than the current F12/F13/F06 6-Series as well. Probably wider, longer and just a tiny bit taller. The 8-Series in general will be a sexy Grand Touring Car, but more luxurious than the 6-Series ever was. Think of it like BMW's version of the Aston Martin Vanquish, or Rapide.

Unfortunately BMW's plan for the future ///M versions of the 8-Series won't align with what I personally see as a great opportunity for BMW and M and that is to finally put out a direct competitor to the Audi R8, Mclaren 570S, or Mercedes AMG GT. First of all, the 8-Series will be too big to be considered a true super car. Second it will have a trunk, not very super-car like. Thirdly, the powerplant won't be as exotic as it needs to be. If it were up to me, since the 8-Series falls in line with more of a 2 door coupe version of the 7-Series I would put a reworked version of the Twin Turbo V12 that BMW put in the M760i into the M8, but have ///M Division rework it with more Motorsport like characteristics. No, instead they will put the exact same engine the M5 has into the M8 Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible. Thus saving time and lots of money I am sure. One thing we can count on for sure is that these future M8's will have the new M xDrive system installed and I hope they get the same lightweight treatment the M5 got so that weight can hopefully be maintained under 4,200lbs.

Anyways, this is the future, or as much as I know through research, study, hearsay and rumour.

Re-Cap: No more 6-Series, 6GT will still be ugly, and new 8-Series will get all ///M models.

[advantage20]

I'm all for 4 door coupés, and I'm glad BMW will make an 8GC which is basically a 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 7 Series The luxury segments are growing and I have no doubt it will sell well.

However as previously said this leaves no 4 door coupé within the range below (based on 5 Series), while the direct competitors do offer 4 door coupés based on the E Class (CLS) and A6 (A7 SB) and they sell well. I'm pretty sure that if BMW did develop a new 6GC, it would not cannibalize the 8GC which would be much more expensive and luxurious (same difference as between 5 and 7). Instead it would steal sales from the CLS and A7 SB, which I'm not sure the much more high-end 8GC will manage to. Yet instead of making a new 6GC they preferred developing an all-new 6GT which in no way makes up for the cancelling of the 6GC...

Lower down the range the 4GT will hopefully mimic the A5 SB and simply be a 4 door version of the corresponding coupé. However the naming going from GC to GT tends to suggest otherwise, meaning that the 4GT won't be a low 4 door coupé like the 4GC is today but rather a high 3GT-ish vehicle following the 6GT recipe, i.e. a bit more slender than today's 3GT but still weird and no match for the A5 SB.

Frankly if BMW wants the 2-in-1 solution they should just cut the awkward GT models and replace them by low 4 door hatchback coupés akin to the A5 SB and A7 SB...

[AntDX316]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Not necessarily. The 6 Series coupe and convertible are smaller (shorter, shorter wheelbase) than the 5 Series sedan. The 6 Gran Coupe is naturally larger than the two-door models, but not larger than the sedan. Expect a similar relationship between the 7 Series and 8 Series.

Maybe. Doesn't really mean it would be a scaled up version of the 6. It could even be as small as the i8.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by AntDX316

Maybe. Doesn't really mean it would be a scaled up version of the 6.

But then I didn't say it would be a scaled up version of the 6 Series, right? In fact, I was specifically making the point that the 8 Series needn't be larger than the 7 Series.

I think it is pretty safe to say that the 8 Series in both two-door and four-door form will see a very slight increase in size as compared to today's 6 Series counterparts, but nothing more than we'd typically see from one generation to the next for any other BMW. So the name change is really not about size at all. It is mostly about allowing the car to continue to move up market without making the price difference vs. the Mercedes Benz CLS and Audi A7/S7 appear even more out of place than it already does today. In other words, BMW is simply acknowledging the car's proper place in the lineup, and giving it a more favorable marketplace perception.

It could even be as small as the i8.

Have you taken a look at the 8 Series spy photos? It is definitely not the size of an i8. The only thing an 8 Series and an i8 will have in common is the number 8. Just like a 3 Series and an i3 relate only by having the number 3 in their names.

[MalibuBimmer]

If the reveal in the first post is a photo, I'll buy the car as soon as it comes out. If it's a conceptual drawing I'll pass. If I pass, I am now strongly considering the new Maserati-like grilled Mercedes GT. I thought I would get a B7, but the new 7 series is just too bloated and bland. The more of them I see on the road, the more I dislike them.

I am fully expecting that BMW will disappoint me. I doubt the new 8 will look at all like the profile silhouette they're putting out there. The camo'd test cars look ugly, bland and predictable. Which is where BMW styling has been for decades.

BMW is going to have to wow me now to keep my loyalty.

[AntDX316]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

But then I didn't say it would be a scaled up version of the 6 Series, right? In fact, I was specifically making the point that the 8 Series needn't be larger than the 7 Series.

I think it is pretty safe to say that the 8 Series in both two-door and four-door form will see a very slight increase in size as compared to today's 6 Series counterparts, but nothing more than we'd typically see from one generation to the next for any other BMW. So the name change is really not about size at all. It is mostly about allowing the car to continue to move up market without making the price difference vs. the Mercedes Benz CLS and Audi A7/S7 appear even more out of place than it already does today. In other words, BMW is simply acknowledging the car's proper place in the lineup, and giving it a more favorable marketplace perception.



Have you taken a look at the 8 Series spy photos? It is definitely not the size of an i8. The only thing an 8 Series and an i8 will have in common is the number 8. Just like a 3 Series and an i3 relate only by having the number 3 in their names.

So it's basically going to be 7-series size with 2 doors?

[advantage20]

Yes, same idea as 4 Series compared to 3 Series, but (probably about 15cm) shorter than the sedan.
If BMW is going to make a super luxury sedan above the 7, it's going to be odd-numbered = 9 Series. There is going to be a 4 door version of the 8 Series too though.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by AntDX316

So it's basically going to be 7-series size with 2 doors?

No.

[ny325]

Probably looks Nice, has a zillion electronic bells/whistles options, and drives like crap. BMW, bring back the " Ultimate Driving Machine. Enough with all these oversized, boring to drive vehicles.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by ny325

Probably looks Nice, has a zillion electronic bells/whistles options, and drives like crap. BMW, bring back the " Ultimate Driving Machine. Enough with all these oversized, boring to drive vehicles.

The M5 is being raved about. Hopefully, that'll be the start of the Ultimate Driving Machine again.

[Coops90]

Originally Posted by Law

While we're on the topic

Some more...

[supra93]

BMW recently announced plans to introduce the 8-Series concept at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 26th so Peisert Design has created a rendering of what the model could like.

Drawing inspiration from spy photos and the official teaser image, Peisert Design produced this stylish looking coupe which features a long hood, a rakish windshield, and a gently sloping roof which tapers down to meet a rear spoiler. The car also has front fender vents, massive alloy wheels, and pronounced rear fenders.

The photoshop artist went on to create a rendering of the M8 which is distinguished by a sportier front bumper with larger air intakes. The model has also a four-tailpipe exhaust system and unique wheels which cover a high-performance braking system with blue calipers.

We'll likely learn more about the car later this week, but it will be an upmarket replacement for the 6-Series Coupe. The model will ride on the CLAR platform that underpins the 5- and 7-Series and could be equipped with an assortment of familiar engines including a range-topping 6.6-liter V12 developing 601 hp (609 PS) and 590 lb-ft (799 Nm) of torque.

The 8-Series will be launched next year and could be priced in excess of €150,000 ($168,510) in Europe.

http://www.carscoops.com/2017/05/201...d-concept.html

[MalibuBimmer]

I sure hope it looks like that. But the camo is a fat, ugly, bland pig. Which is what BMW is producing these days.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Rednering based off of the teaser: Not sure about the front but the profile looks very good!

[supra93]

Found the vid of the rendering

[Bmw doubles]

Hot damn!

[Zirenz2006]

WOW!