BMW to launch 8 Series Gran Coupe in India

BMW's newest line of cars, the 8 Series has been launched globally and it was about time the stylish coupe arrived on Indian shores. While the COVID-19 pandemic might delay the schedule, the BMW 8 Series has made its debut on the Indian website of the German carmaker.

After BMW rejigged their nomenclature a few years ago, the 6 series cars were to be reincarnated as the 8 Series. We have had the 6 Series two-door coupe here in India along with the 6 Series Gran Coupes. The new 8 Series is based on CLAR platform and was revealed internationally in 2018. The Gran Coupe has been on sale internationally since 2019.

The 8 Series is a luxury coupe and will be offered with a bunch of customization options and it is evident from the website which already has 12 shades of exterior paint, 15 combinations of dual-tone upholstery and 5 trim options to choose from.  There will also be the M-Package with blacked out details and larger 20-inch alloy wheels while the 19-inch wheels might be standard fitment. In terms of creature comforts, the panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, the twin screens on the dashboard (one for the instrument cluster and the other a touchscreen for infotainment) will be standard along with electrically adjustable front seats and wing mirrors.

As for the powertrains, we expect BMW to offer the 8 Series as a performance coupe, but will not offer the M8 right away. We expect the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol and diesel turbocharged engines with over 300PS of power on tap. While the 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox is a certainty, the xDrive all-wheel drive might not be offered, at least with the petrol mill.

In terms of styling, the 8 Series Gran Coupe is yet to get the big-grille treatment and looks aggressive with the angry-eyed LED headlamps and DRL setup. The large wheels, long hood and the sloping roofline of the Gran Coupe make up for a pretty sight while the rear is typically BMW with the large horizontal LED tail lamps.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe ideally competes with the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the erstwhile Audi A7. The M8 Gran Coupe, if that comes to India, will go against the Audi RS7. BMW will most probably bring the 8 Series as a CBU and we can expect the price tag to be at least Rs 1 crore to start with.