The BMW 8 series has returned to the German firm’s lineup after a near 20-year absence. A two-door coupe will be the first of three body styles that will comprise the range, which will grow to include a convertible as well as four-door Gran Coupe by the end of next year.
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Auto express was invited for an exclusive preview of the new two-door coupe, which is on sale now.
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Pitched as a rival for everything from a Mercedes S-Class Coupe right as much as the Aston Martin DB11, the German firm believes it has produced a car with a wider breadth of abilities than any of its competitors packaging high-end purchasers expect of a flagship car with the performance of a sports car.
And the 8 series is not just a shortened version of the 7 series saloon with two fewer doors, says the BMW. The coupe gets a unique chassis, suspension and powertrain setup, while tech borrowed from the firm’s GTE Le Mans racer has been sprinkled throughout the car.
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“The first thing we started with on this project was to develop a sports car – not a stylish car,” Sarah Lessmann, BMW 8 series product manager, told auto Express. “The 8 series was all about bringing perfect performance as well as new and unique design.”