2020 BMW 8 Series

This BMW is no Sports car or Luxury, it’s a Grand Tourer, which means it’s intended to cross continents while seating its occupants in the lap of luxury and do so without feeling sluggish or boaty. The original was the first of its kind and it went on to inspire a whole new breed of automobiles that were intended to be that perfect blend of Luxury and Performance.

But a lot has changed in 3 decades, the competition to be precise. Back in the day, there weren’t many cars that could claim to be in the same league as the 8 series but now its a tough world out there and the BMW faces immense competition from the likes of Bently’s Continental, Aston Martin’s exquisite DB11 and others. So let’s see what makes this 8-series worth considering.

The BMW 840i Convertible is a trim of the 2020 BMW 8-series lineup. The 840i can be procured in 3 body styles - Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Convertible. The 840i Convertible is further available in 2 configurations - RWD and AWD.

Trim	BMW 840i Coupe
MSRP (RWD)	$87,900
MSRP (AWD)	$90,800
Key Features	Active kidney grille
	Sports exhaust system
	Dynamics Drive Modes
	Dynamic damper control
	18-inch V-spoke light-alloy wheels
	Chrome-line exterior trim
	Instrument panel finished in Nappa leather
	12-speaker Harman Kardon Surround sound system
	Infrared Camera

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The 8-series coupe is a stand-alone variant but in typical BMW fashion, it is offered with tonnes of options and features to personalize it to the customer’s taste. Though the standard car is loaded with plenty of kit as standard, we highly recommend shelling out the extra 3 grand on the X-Drive AED as it improves the cars 0-60 mph time by a noticeable 0.3 seconds but moreover improves the handling quite substantially, making it more tossable and confidence-inspiring in the twisties.

As a replacement to the 6-series, the 8-series carries similar engine options which include the trusted 3-liter inline-six motor as the entry-level option in the 840i which might not be as powerful as its heftier and pricer V8 powered M850i sibling but it doesn’t stop it from getting to serious speeds in a jiffy. Being the entry-level engine it has a few more advantages over its more powerful models starting with the price tag which is almost 10 grand less than the V8, then the engine itself is a more efficient motor and is easier to manage around town which makes this abetter daily driver if you choose to use it as one and the final advantage being the fact that it is considerably cheaper to maintain and insure thanks to the lack of two cylinders.

To sum up the engine, it is arguably one of the most refined engines in the industry today and is so good in fact that going for the more powerful V8 motor starts to make less sense in comparison.

Models	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500 Coupe
MSRP	$90,800	$87,400	$110,200	$93,325
Engine	3L Twin-turbo Inline-6	3L Supercharger V6	3L Twin-turbo Flat-6	5.0L Premium Unleaded V8
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	AWD	RWD
Transmission	8-speed Automatic	8-speed Automatic	8-speed Automatic	10-speed Automatic
Power (hp @ rpm)	335@5,000	380@6,500	379@6,500	471@7,100
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)	368@1,600	339@3,500	331@1,950	398@4,800

The most convenient part of this I6 motor that makes it such a joy to drive apart from its refinement is its seamless torque that is available across the rev-range. With almost 500nm at its disposal, overtaking in any gear at any speeds is a no brainer and combine that with BMW’s lightning ZF 8-speed transmission makes this one of the most balanced powertrains in the business.

How fast is the 8-series?

Speed is a major focal point for Grand Tourers, it is one of the main reasons apart from its looks which draws people’s attention to this class of vehicles and it is safe to say that the new 8-series doesn’t disappoint in this front. With a 4.7 second 0-60 for the RWD and 4.4 seconds for the X-drive version, the 8-series is no slouch for sure. If the numbers aren’t enough rest assured the shove in the back seat feeling especially with the X-drive variant is seriously exhilarating.

Top-speed is a not so exhilarating 155mph which is, of course, limited as part of the gentlemen’s agreement between the three German auto magnets. This limit is further reduced to 130 mph on all-season tires. But no doubt the engine is capable of more than that which can be confirmed during top-speed runs as the engine feels pretty relaxed even at the 155mph mark.

Model	BMW 840i Coupe	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500 Coupe
0-60 MPH (sec)	5.0	4.8	4.2	4.4
Quarter Mile (sec)	13.4	13.4	12.7	13.8
Top Speed (MPH)	150	200	191	168
Engine	3L Twin-turbo Inline-6	3L Supercharger V6	3L Twin-turbo Flat-6	5.0L Premium Unleaded V8
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.7	8	7.3	9.3

If top speed is all that you are looking for in a car then your 100 grand will be better spent on a sports car or one of the BMWs M division performance cars. This Grand Tourer is meant for cruising effortlessly at triple-digit speeds and eating up highway miles for hours on end. That’s where the 8-series truly comes into its own.

What about the braking performance of the?

The exact breaking performance figures aren’t available just yet but the hardware suggests that the 8-series coupe is well equipped to handle all of that horsepower it packs under the hood.

The 8-series houses a pair of twin-plate ventilated discs, combined with the composite 4-caliper brake pads helps the 8-series shed speed as fast as it gains it.

Model	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500
Brake Rotors Front (in)	N/A	15	13.8	15.7
Brake Rotors Rear (in)	N/A	13	13.8	14.1
Curb Weight (lbs)	4211	3558	3508	4280
60-0 MPH (ft)	108	114	94	105

To compliment all the mechanical prowess that went into designing the 8-series brakes, BMW has complimented it with just as much if not more tech to make it a foolproof package. Apart from the standard suite of tech such as BMW’s Dynamic Stability Program (DSC), the break also packs in cutting edge features such as brake fade detection and brake failure warning along with the emergency auto-braking system to stop you from getting into sticky situations.

What about its driving dynamics?

The 8-series is no M car for BMW’s manic Motorsport division, but before you set your eyes on one with an “M” batch, here me out. The fact that its no “M” car is what makes this flamboyant coupe such a promising proposition. For starters, let’s talk about the masterpiece under the hood,i.e the B58 inline-6 motor. Ask any purest about BMW’s history with Inline-6 motors and you will be able to observe their eyes lighting up like fireworks because they are arguably the best in business when it comes to making these motors, let alone the fact that an Inline-6 configuration is the most balanced engine configuration there is. This is because the inline-6 naturally cancels out vibrations courtesy the firing order which works in a series of pairs making it virtually vibration-free.

Not to bore you guys any further with mechanical engineering lessons, let’s move on to the car itself. The engine pumps out a healthy 335 horsepower which might seem less for a GT car that weighs almost 4000 lbs but thanks to the twin-turbo setup the kick in the pants feeling are all-wheel and it is able to manage all that weight pretty well. Combine that with the space-age all-wheel steering setup, the 8-series manages to hide all that size really well and feels like a much shorter and nimble car than what it actually is. If you choose to opt for the X-drive AWD, you will find yourself carrying some serious speeds through corners with minimal effort on your part.

The active dampers and body control just add on to this already excellent setup which at the touch of a button (or a few buttons buried within the sub-menus) switching to sport mode immediately stiffens up everything from the suspension to the steering and even the travel in brake pedal ultimately transforming it from a Grand Tourer to a Grand sports car.

The BMW 840i is as flamboyant as modern rides get, but the flamboyance combined with all that weight does not translate to its fuel efficiency which at 22 mpg around town and around 29 mpg at motorway speeds isn’t great by any means but at least it does not market itself as some polar-bear friendly eco-warrior, it is what it is and if efficiency is the name of your game then look away right now. However, if you were to consider everything in this segment, the 840i’s 24 mpg combined rating isn’t that bad after all.

Model	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500
MPG (City)	22	19	18	16
MPG (Highway)	29	27	23	25
MPG (Combined)	24	22	20	19
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	18.0	18.5	16.9	21.7
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) (mi)	396/522/432	352/500/407	304/389/338	347/543/412

The BMW 840i manages to offer some of the best in class fuel-efficiency figures.if you were to pitch it against its close rivals like the Jaguar F-TYPE or the Porsche Carrera, they all manage around 22 mpg overall with there smaller engines.

The BMW 840i’s cabin is a cozy tech haven, where the Bavarian design language meets seamlessly with the slue of tech that the car has to offer its occupants. Starting with the front row, there is ample space in all directions for the occupants. Every 8-Series model brings on offer 14-way power-adjustable heated front seats which are aptly stuffed and feature just enough bolstering to hold you in place while swishing past those corners, without coming in your way of getting in or out of the car.

Speaking of the back seats, though the company claims that it has a passenger capacity of 4, yet the rear seats do not seem very warm and welcoming. The rear seats of the BMW 840i can accommodate children, but thinking of hosting 2 adults on the rear-seats seems like a far-fetched idea.

Model	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500
Seating Capacity	4	2	4	4
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.9/57.2/42.1	37.0/56.5/43.0	38/51.7/41.6	37.2/56.5/42.0
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	34.7/45.7/29.5	-	N/A	32.2/49.0/32.5

Speaking of the opulence the 840i’s cabin brings to the table, we’d say that the 840i bears’ everything you’d expect from a grand tourer at this price point. Almost every visible surface inside the BMW 840i is covered in exclusive Nappa leather or Extended Merino leather upholstery which BMW would happily garnish in the sade of your choice. The entire cabin exudes an aura of poise while soaking in the nectar of practicality.

Does it come loaded with tech inside?

BMW arms the 840i brings on board the iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, that projects all the vital driving and media information on a 10.25-inch focal touchscreen panel. Apart from this central screen, the BMW 840i features BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The 840i offers you a number of ways to interact with the infotainment panel, which is either the touchscreen, voice or the iDrive touchpad Controller.

Some other prominent tech features that the BMW 8-series Convertible houses are:

• SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite with seek-scan
• Premium amplifier
• Wireless phone connectivity
• Head-up display
• Navigation
• Bluetooth
• 32 GB multimedia storage
• Over-the-Air traffic updates
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system
• WiFi Hotspot with complimentary 3-month or 3GB trial internet access
• Steering-wheel mounted audio controls
• Apple CarPlay
• Voice control

What about utility?

The one criterion where the BMW offerings usually have an edge over all their competitors is the practicality they offer with space under their trunk lid. The BMW 840i offers almost 15 cubic feet of cargo space (14.8 to be precise), which is a great digit for a grand tourer. The 840i Convertible can lodge up to four carry-on bags in its suede-lined trunk, and another five with the rear seats stowed.

Model	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Mercedes-Benz SL 450 Cabriolet
Cargo Capacity (ft3)	14.8	7.3	4.6	13.5

The BMW 840i offers a cargo volume of 14.8 cubic feet of space, thus leading the segment figures by a great margin.

Creature comforts on offer in the BMW 840i Convertible

The BMW 840i offers a serene and leisurely ride that exhibits the essence of a luxury grand-tourer with every surface of its cabin. The BMW 840i can sprint like a maniac, but can also pull-off the well-mannered character pretty easily. Some of the most prominent convenience features that these Bimmer houses are:

• Comfort Access proximity key
• Keyfob trunk/hatch/door release
• Illuminated passenger vanity mirror
• Memory seats
• Retained accessory power
• Day-night rearview mirror
• Heated sport steering wheel with power tilting, power telescoping, auto tilt-away, and memory
• Automatic temperature control
• Remote engine start
• BMW Assist eCall emergency communication system
• Cruise control with steering wheel controls, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go distance pacing
• Valet function
• 2 driver and passenger memory seat settings
• Door mirror memory

All BMW 8-series models define astonishing at a different level altogether, the wide muscular stance, defined proportions, solid lines, sharp angles, and almost everything about the BMW 8-series posts a lasting impression on roads. In the case of the 840i Convertible, the drop-top factor further adds up to this exoticism.

The front part of the BMW 840i is dominated by the BMW trademark blacked-out active Kidney grille, which is framed by a pair of adaptive LED headlamps and large and striking air intakes on the lower side of the bumper.

Model	BMW 840i	Jaguar F-TYPE P380 R-Dynamic	Porsche 911 Carrera	Lexus LC 500
Curb Weight (lbs)	4211	3558	3508	4280
Length (in)	191.1	176.0	177.9	187.3
Width (in)	84.1	74.2	72.9	75.6
Height (in)	52.7	51.5	51.1	53.0
Ground Clearance (in)	5.0	4.0	4.6	5.2
Wheelbase (in)	111.1	103.2	96.5	113.0

The rear end is rather sleek in comparison to the front with its understated bumper lines and even sleeker all-LED tail lamps which dawn the signature neon bars.

What are those eye-catching features?

The BMW 840i is a statement on wheels and that is going to be its biggest selling point. Several external styling elements that make this Grand Tourer look the part include:

• Door auto-latch
• Power remote right side-view door mirror with tilt down
• Chrome tip exhaust
• Chrome grille
• Turn signal indicator mirrors
• Rear bumper with gray rub strip
• Power open and close trunk
• Frameless doors.

The Bavarians have taken special care of the safety and security needs of the occupants in the case of the 840i. Some of the most noteworthy safety features of the BMW 840i are:

• Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
• Remote activated perimeter/approach lights
• Remote keyless entry
• Side-impact bars
• Electronic stability
• Adjustable front head restraints
• Frontal Collision Warning w/City Collision Mitigation
• Four-wheel ABS brakes
• Occupant sensing airbags
• Traction control
• ABS
• 4 airbags
• Tracker system

BMW 840i vs. Porsche 911 Carrera

The Porsche 911 Carrera is one of the priciest offerings of this segment, with a sticker price of $110,200. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet houses a 3L Flat-6 engine, which belts out 379 hp along with 331 lb.-ft. Of torque. These figures can propel the 911 from 0-60 in just 4.2 seconds, thus making it the fastest sprinting car of the lot. The Porsche also offers a passenger capacity of 4, which is a seldom feature in grand-tourers like these.

BMW 840i vs. Lexus LC 500 coupe

At a very similar price point, you get 2 more cylinders and Lexus’s concept car turned reality looks will definitely grab as may if not more eyeballs than the 8 series, but inspite of the similarities in the price tag, they represent two completely different takes on a Grand Tourer and when it comes two these two it is all about personal preferences as both these vehicles very hard to fault and are great at what they do.

The 8-series from BMW is a car that is fueled by ambitions and has the potential of changing the game for the Bavarians. All 8-series models are a perfect blend of smashing looks, classy interiors, and breath-taking performance. The 840i further takes the thrill of driving up a notch with all the drama soaking in from the open top of the ride.