BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe review

The 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the four-door version of the two-door BMW 8 Series flagship sports car. As such, the Gran Coupe’s front end is practically identical to its smaller sibling’s, sporting the same lean headlights and wide ‘kidney’ grille: the classic BMW trademark.

Things change as you travel further backwards: the Gran Coupe has a more upright windscreen and rear window, intended to increase front headroom and boot space respectively. Oh yes, and then there’s the minor detail of the Gran Coupe having double the number of doors than the standard 8 Series coupe.

The 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is 3,023mm – 201mm over the standard BMW 8 Series’. This means that the car will have more generous legroom for its rear passengers. Meanwhile, the steeper angle of the windscreen and rear windows will make for more headroom wherever you’re sat.

BMW calls the Gran Coupe a “4+1-seater”, citing – alongside the two proper front and rear seats – the space for a fifth passenger in the middle of the rear bench, which, it claims, “is suitable for use on short journeys”. So, ideally, the Gran Coupe is best for accommodating anywhere up to four adults.

It isn’t often the case, but this four-door Gran Coupe version of the BMW 8 Series might be even better looking than the two-door. It’s certainly every bit as luxurious inside.

The 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has three engines for you to choose from: two petrols and one diesel. The entry-level version of the car – the 840i – is rear-wheel drive and has a six-cylinder petrol engine capable of putting out 340hp. This can take the Gran Coupe from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds while returning a claimed fuel economy of up to 38.2mpg.

From initial appearances, it seems that the mid-range 840d is going to be the pick of the 8 Series Gran Coupe range. It’s four-wheel-drive, meaning that – while its maximum power output is just 320hp – it can reach 62mph from a standstill in 5.1 seconds, with an impressive fuel economy of up to 45.6mpg.

The range-topping, four-wheel-drive M850i trades economy for pure power. It goes from 0-62mph in only 3.9 seconds and has 530hp to play with. Sadly, BMW claims that it returns just 28.5mpg.

We’ll have a full review on the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe as soon as we’ve driven it. Until then, check out our 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: Everything you need to know story for all the info we have.