SPIED! BMW 8 Series prototype spied for the first time


Back in June we asked, “Is BMW planning a comeback for the 8 Series?” It looks like the answer to that question is a “yes” because these spy photos of a BMW prototype appear to be the long-rumored 8 Series coupe, a model that disappeared from the automaker’s lineup almost 20 years ago.
The prototype was caught in a storage lot with other BMW test mules that provide a point of reference for size. Parked next to a neighboring Mini Countryman prototype, it appears to be longer than any coupe in BMW’s current lineup, including the 6 Series.
Today, the 6 Series is the closest thing BMW has to a Mercedes S-Class coupe fighter, but the two aren’t true competitors. An 8 Series based on the 7 Series sedan, however, would be a legitimate answer to the Benz and would finally give BMW a flagship coupe that’s been missing from the lineup for almost two decades. The 8 will likely ride on the 7’s CLAR platform and share its powertrain choices and fancy technology.
Styling should mimic the 7 Series, though we wouldn’t mind seeing cues from the Gran Lusso concept created in partnership with Pininfarina back in 2013. With the prototype out and about, the 8 Series could be ready for production as soon as model-year 2019.
Photo Source: Brian Williams Photography







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