The 2019 BMW 8-Series marks the brand’s return to the luxury coupe market which has been dominated by the Mercedes S-Class Coupe for the past few years.
More expensive and luxurious than the previous 6-Series Coupe, the all-new 8-Series features a bold design, a high-tech cabin and a powerful a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that produces 523 hp (390 kW / 530 PS) and 553 lb-ft (748 Nm) of torque in the M850i xDrive. This enables the high-performance model to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
While we’ve already seen a handful of reviews showing the model on the track, Tiff Needell recently took an extended spin in the car along the Andalusian coast in Spain.
As part of the trip, Needell makes a quick stop at the La Rosaleda stadium to showcase the car’s Reversing Assistant system. It remembers how the car was parked and can then steer itself out of the spot on command. This doesn’t just enable the car to travel a few feet as Needell shows the 8-Series backing out of the crowded parking garage filled with cars and pillars.
After briefly demonstrating the car’s gesture recognition technology, Needell says the eco-friendly 840d has great steering and brakes even though the model doesn’t use fancy carbon ceramic discs. He also says the ride quality is a bit on the firm side and the rear seats are only acceptable for a quick 10-15 minute trip as both head and legroom are seriously lacking.
The duo then take a quick spin on the Ascari Circuit, before trading in the 840d for the more performance-oriented M850i. Needell comes always pretty impressed as he says the car has amazing traction and impressive power.