BMW debuts 4-door, 8-Series Gran Coupe with entry price around $ 86,000

BMW has a habit of stretching definitions, as it has introduced a stretched version of the old 6-Series coupe, adding a pair of extra doors and dubbing it to "Gran Coupe."

Since then, it has expanded the array of four-door cuts that have fleshed out its line-up. The new 2020 BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe is BMW's latest offering.

For those who want more power, however, the new Gran Coupe comes with a brutish, 523-horsepower twin-turbo V-8.

Based on the two-door model introduced just a year ago, the new model offers more space and easier entry, as well as the first inline-six engine option available for the 8-Series line. The sporty M850i ​​version will also become one of the automaker's most expensive models ever when it reaches the showrooms in September, when the option boxes are checked.

When it reaches U.S. showrooms, expect a starting price of $ 85,895 for the 840i and $ 88,705 for the 840i xDrive. The M850i ​​will start at $ 109,895.

The debut of the new Gran Coupe is coming to a close after the last two years of the BMW 8-Series version of the 7-Series sedan flagship.

But, in today's SUV-centric market, cuts have been made even more ground than sedans, and the Gran Coupe is expected to solidly outsell the two-door 8-Series going forward.

That said, BMW designers worked hard to maintain the coupe-like lines of the earlier model, retaining the long nose and sweeping roofline, even though the Gran Coupe features a more upright windshield to allow for a taller roof.

It is bigger in most key dimensions, adding 7.9 inches to the two-door's wheelbase, for one thing, and 9.0 inches to overall length. The Gran Coupe also gains 1.2 inches in width and stands 2.2 inches taller, those number translating into a cabin roomy enough to allow adults to sit in front of bumping elbows or banging heads whenever the hits hits a pothole.

Both versions will come with a standard moon as standard, though the M850i ​​will also offer an optional carbon-fiber roof to reduce overall weight and lower the Gran Coupe's center of gravity. The body itself uses a mix of materials to hold down mass, including aluminum doors and a tooth-plastic resistant trunk lid.

As one might expect of the BMW flagship, even a basic model is lavishly equipped, with standard leather seating and trim, though buyers can opt for a two-tone leather package, as well. Unlike the two-door model, the Gran Coupe features a wide center console that cuts the length of the cabin. The rear seats can be folded in a 40/20/40 configuration to open up more cargo space.

There are some significant technical features, too, including LED headlamps with Laserlight that help extend a driver's view significantly at night. The rear console features new USB-C ports and the latest version of the BMW iDrive infotainment system.

While BMW offers the 8-Series coupe with a variety of different powertrain options around the world, it limited the U.S. two-door model to the 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 found in the M850i ​​trim. That version was able to launch from 0 to 60 in under 3.5 seconds. The heavier Gran Coupe, BMW estimates, will need about 3.7 seconds to get there.

Going forward, the Bavarian automaker will add the rear-wheel-drive 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe which will bring the U.S. to 3.3-liter inline-six making 335 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. It estimates a 0 to 60 launch time of 4.6 seconds for the xDrive model, and a top speed of 155 mph when driving on performance tires.

Both engines will be paired with a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The Gran Coupe gets a double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear. An active steering system is meant to increase the car's agility, especially during high-speed cornering.