[ad_1]
BMW began producing the new 8 Series Coupé at its Dingolfing, Germany facility, meaning that the first passenger cars are on their way to reach the UK's roads in November.
A BMW spokesman told Autocar that the production lines are intended to be demonstrators and press vehicles. They will be followed by examples of customers, built in one of two available launch specifications, M850i xDrive or 840d xDrive, which cost £ 100,045 and £ 76,270 respectively. [19659002] The New Porsche Two-Door Porsche 911 With the Luxury of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class According to Director World of BMW Products Sarah Lessmann. Lessmann said at the public debut of the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last month that the goal was to "define how a sports car should be". She added: "Everyone in the project had BMW's vision of getting back to sports cars, not just sports cars."
The premium performance model, which revives the 8 Series nameplate in 1999, was also designed to revive BMW in the luxury market. Such is the importance of the model that BMW has invested heavily in its Dingolfing site to equip it with robotic manufacturing machines and autonomous transportation systems.
: Did BMW Find a Difference in the Market?
At launch, the M850i xDrive is equipped with a 4.4-liter V8 petrol engine developing 523 hp and offering a torque of 554lb available between 1800rpm and 4600rpm. It can reach 0-62 mph in 3.7 sec, with a top speed limited to 155 mph.
The V8 engine has been extensively reworked by BMW, including new twin-scrolled turbochargers, increasing the horsepower by 67 hp compared to previous versions. The other launch model, the 840d xDrive, is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder developing 316 hp and 501 lb ft, with a 0 to 62 mph time of 4.9 seconds
Both models use an eight-speed gearbox. , with the gear ratios increased to boost sports performance. The 8 Series is also equipped with an xDrive all-wheel drive system, with a rear configuration that transmits as standard all power to the rear wheels.
Q & A: Sarah Lessmann, BMW believes that the performance objective of the 8 Series can fill a gap in the market of luxury sports cars between models such as the Mercedes S-Class S-Class Coupe and the Porsche 911. [19659002] "We have a wide range of competitors, but comparing the 8 Series to one, we do not feel well," said Lessmann
"There is a big gap [between the S-Class Coupé and the 911] and we have decided that Series 8 should not be in the middle of it: it takes the best of everything, and defines its own gap. are close to the 911, but we also offer elegant and luxurious materials to match the best of the S-Class. "
While the new car effectively replaces the 6 Series Gran Coupé as a two-coupe doors in the BMW line-up, Lessmann insists that it's not nor the successor to this model, nor a coupe version of the Series 7, with which it shares architectural elements (and will be built next to the BMW factory Dingolfing). Germany). She said: "The 6 Series was a derivation of the 5 Series, but here we have a stand-alone car, in terms of design, performance and components."
"We could start from scratch to define how a sports car should be."
The 8 Series was launched at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to recognize that it was developed alongside the upcoming M8 and the M8 endurance race car GTE.
The car is equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear suspension. The M850i has been developed as an integrated package. Mr. Lessmann said: "We have decided to opt for a special configuration, so that customers will find their car perfectly suited.There is no choice for the chassis components: it's not a good choice. is a perfect installation. "
This facility was built around custom-made Bridgestone tires (245/35 R20 at the front, 275/30 R20 at the rear), which on wheels of 20 inches. It also features variable damping control, an active M suspension with electronically controlled dampers and a new version of the BMW xDrive system, which includes adaptive power steering and active steering. integral as well as a limited slip differential. The model receives 395 mm sports brakes M.
Lessmann noted that the M Sport exhaust system and the V8 engine ensured that the model offered a "true sports sound experience". She added: "You do not only have the driving experience of a sports car, but the true sound of the V8 engine – there is no sound generator: it's pure. "
Standard, with optional 19in and 20in, as part of the M Sport and M Technic Sport packages. A range of driver assistance systems, including active cruise control, is offered as standard; Features such as lane keeping assistance are optional as part of the Driving Assistant Professional package.
Series 8 is 4843 mm long with a wheelbase of 2822 mm, a width of 1902 mm and a height of 1341 mm. The boot has a capacity of 420 liters. The model adopts BMW's new design language for its sports cars, which aims to bring a more modern and "emotional" look. Lessmann states that certain design elements were borrowed from the 1970s sports cars.
The new design includes the bolder, renovated grille, which features a single surround and hex pattern, as well as the finest headlights on offer. all BMW models. These are matched by thin LED taillights, which feed a spoiler and two sets of exhaust pipes. The car deliberately has muscular flanks and a "double bubble" dip in the roof (available in optional carbon fiber), designed to recall a detail of classic racing cars. Large front and rear spoilers improve grip and performance.
Inside, the 8 Series features custom-made seats, a 12.3-inch instrument screen and a touch-screen central 10.25 inches. version of the BMW head-up display. The control system can be controlled via the touch screen, voice control, gesture control or iDrive touch controller, as well as the standard leather steering wheel buttons.
The clean interior design includes downward sloping controls. driver. This focus is "very important for a sports car," Lessmann said. In order to emphasize the top quality of the car, leather is standard on the dashboard and doors, and options include a diamond cut glass gear selector and other controls.
BMW has not yet confirmed the additional engine options is considered to be under study.
Lessmann reported that the company was still "discussing" future variants of the 8 Series. A M8 Gran Coupé concept was presented at the Geneva Motor Show this year, in anticipation of the future. a future four-door coupe likely to be launched late next year, and a convertible version is also scheduled to be introduced. The latter was tested in public
BMW 8 Series: same name, different mission:
The new 8 Series is the second generation of BMW to use the nameplate.
First, produced from 1989 to 1999, was also a two-door coupe-range aimed at the high-end market – but the company says it's where the similarities end .
The original 8 Series featured state-of-the-art technology, including traction control and speed-sensitive power steering, with the 850i top model powered by a 5.6-liter V12 engine ( the entry-level cars featured a V8). BMW 1965 only sold a little over 30,000 models during its lifetime. "The old 8 Series was less a sports car than a technological showcase to present everything BMW could do at the time" Sarah Lessmann
Rather than tying the car At the original Series 8, Lessmann explained that the decision to relaunch the nameplate was related to other recent models. She said: "In the history of BMW, the & # 39; 8 & # 39; was always for special projects: we had the 8 Series, the Z8 and the i8.
" The 8 Series is the perfect name for a car that is something new. something that is remarkable in the rest of our portfolio. "
Read more
BMW 6 Series Review
BMW M6 Review
Source link
