BMW is in the end stages of reinventing its range-topping Grand Tourer 8-Series, with is going to replace the ageing 6-Series of today. And it’s not just rumours that fuel the idea of a name-change: Take a look at the size of the coupe and cabrio in these images and you’ll notice they’re certainly large enough for the 8-Series badge.
With the carmaker having discontinued its flagship two-door back in 1999, it’s about time for the company to fill in this gap. Returning to the 8-Series, the Bavarian automaker’s new CLAR architecture, which debuted with the 2016 7-Series, will serve as a base for the Grand Tourer. And thanks to the intelligent material mix used by the platform, the open-air model shouldn’t be that far from the Coupe in terms of weight and torsional rigidity.
BMW has already trademarked multiple 8-Series-related nameplates, including the M8 and the 456-hp 54.4-litre V8 M850i seen here in coupe and cabrio guise. With the range-topper M8 apparently becoming reality, it will fulfil a dream that’s as old as the original E31 itself (think 1989), as the Motorsport Division never got to touch the old 8, despite a prototype being built.
We should see the new-age BMW 8-Series arriving at this year’s Paris Motor Show. And with Maserati also preparing a new generation of the GranTurismo, this segment of the market is on its way of becoming considerably richer.
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