By Otsile Kadiege

Back in 2019 BMW rebooted the 8 Series moniker, available in three different body styles, after decades of absence from the automaker’s line up. Now the 8 Series is ready for what BMW calls ‘Life Cycle Impulse’ – otherwise know as facelift. Visually not much has changed on the exterior. The updated 8 Series, however boasts a host of standard features, new sets of wheel designs, new body paints and new technologies. 

Exterior

One of the big news of the update is that the M Sport package is now standard across the 8 Series range. Some exterior highlights of the 8 Series LCI are the standard Adaptive LED headlights (optional BMW Laser Lights), a revised kidney grille with the standard ‘BMW Iconic Glow’, M badge on the M850i xDrive’s grille, the brand’s signature cooling air intake now features redesigned kidney bars with a distinctive U-profile and 19-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke design are wrapped with mixed tyres. In addition, the standard equipment now includes an M sports brake system with callipers finished in blue.

Customers can opt for the classic “BMW Motorsport” logo with its staggered semicircles in blue, purple and red. The logo will be fitted on the bonnet, tailgate and wheel hub covers. BMW has added four new exterior body finishes for the updated 8 Series, namely Skyscraper Grey metallic, San Remo Green metallic, M Portimao Blue metallic and BMW Individual Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic. 

Interior

Inside, the new 8 Series comes standard with an M leather multifunction steering wheel with M colours stitching, anthracite-coloured M roof liner, stainless steel M pedals, illuminated door sill trims, multifunction seats combined with BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery and 4-zone automatic air conditioning with separate temperature and air volume control for the rear in the Gran Coupé. 

It also comes standard with BMW Live Cockpit Professional and a 12.3-inch touch display – previously 10.25-inch.

Safety

The new BMW 8 Series features Driving Assistant as standard, including front collision alert, lane change warning and lane departure warning, as well as the traffic sign recognition function Speed Limit Info with No Passing Indicator. The Parking Assistant, which also comes as standard, includes a rear view camera, Active PDC and reverse assistant. 

Another optional extra is Driving Assistant Professional, whose range of functions also includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function plus traffic light recognition and automatic Speed Limit Assist, as well as steering and lane guidance assistance. 

Performance

The BMW 8 Series range is available in both diesel and petrol engines – the 840i, 840d xDrive and M850i xDrive. Powering the 840i is 3-litre in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine making 245kW and 500Nm. BMW claims 0-100km/h is achieved in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h. Its combined fuel consumption is between 9.3 – 8.7l/100km WLTP. 

The frugal yet powerful 840d is powered by a 3-litre in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology. It produces 250kW and 700 Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 5 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h. BMW claims a combined fuel consumption between 7.1 – 6.7l/100km WLTP. 

At the top of the 8 Series range is the M850i xDrive which is powered by a 4.4l V8 developing 390kW and 750Nm. Power is fed to all four paws allowing it to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds. The M850i xDrive is also electronically limited to 250km/h and has a claimed combined fuel-consumption of 11 – 10.7l/100km WLTP. 

Details of local pricing and availability are yet to be announced by BMW South Africa.