We’re finally getting a look at the BMW 8 Series in high resolution and ready to take on the Mercedes S-Class in a Serious way. It’s expected to hit the road in the U.K. in November with a price ranging from £76,740 to as much as £100,025 for the range-topping (until the M8, anyway) M850i seen in all of the images we have here. Pricing for the U.S. has yet to be released.

Exterior Design

The exterior design of the new 8 Series leaves me happy yet depressed at the same time. It’s definitely a sporty vehicle - there’s no doubt about that. The nose is rather flat, though, and the grilles are much smaller than on the concept. The fender vents have been toned down as have the corner air intakes up front. The mirrors and headlights are bigger, while the taillights lose a bit of that 3D effect. The side skirts don’t have as much of a supercar-like look to them, but they are more aggressive, so that’s a nice touch. The rear end is more aggressive as well thanks to a new fascia with smaller recesses in the corners, a revised license plate recess, and a more attractive diffuser-like element. The rectangular exhaust outlets are a nice touch as well, making this an official BMW production model.

With all of that said, you can’t criticize BMW for a lot of these changes, as it’s rather typical when moving from conceptual form into production form. However, the flatter nose is a little unnecessary, and the concept’s front end actually looked a little better than this. Maybe it was the pointed presence or the bigger grilles, I’m not sure, but it was certainly more attractive.

BMW 8 Series Exterior Design Video

How Big is the 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe?

There aren’t a lot of full specs to go by quite yet, but the new 8 Series should weight less than 4,000 pounds and will include a whole range of active chassis technology to help keep this big couple stable in the bends. BMW promises rear-wheel steering as standard equipment, to go with an optional active roll stabilization system that is said to keep things level under extremely hard cornering. With that in mind, it might be a big car, but it’s not quite as big as the Mercedes S-Class. It traverses the ruler at 4,843 mm long, which is 180 mm shorter than the 5,023 mm Merc. It’s also 3 mm wider (okay, we’re splitting hairs here) and 70 mm lower. It’s clearly the sportier GT than the bunch, and these figures alone could secure BMW a bigger chunk of the full-size pie.

BMW 8 Series Exterior Dimensions

Interior Design

The interior of the new 8 Series is as sporty as it gets in true GT form. The digital instrument cluster is a tad bit ugly so it’ll take some getting used to, but the tri-color design of the interior raises the 8 Series to a class that’s seemingly higher than that of the S-Class that it competes with. On that note, it’s nowhere near as futuristic as the concept which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it would be nice if there were fewer buttons and if the center stack had that slanted look. The seat design is exquisite with the rear seats looking like a piece of art. And, while I have to criticize BMW for ruining that center stack, I do like the way the central HVAC vents are small and obscure to the overall design. The lower seating position should put drivers in a commanding position while providing a real sports-car feel. Naturally, there’s leather thrown throughout with a few hints of softer material on the pillars and roof.

BMW 8 Series Interior Design Video

BMW 8 Series Interior Dimensions

What Kind of Technology is in the 8 Series Coupe?

The interior of the new 8 Series is graced by a massive pair of digital displays. Okay, we’ve actually seen bigger, but the instrument cluster is a (seemingly industry standard) 12.3-inch display while the infotainment display that hovers over the center stack is a 10.25-inch unit. It’s not quite as gaudy as those found in cars like the Mercedes S-Class, so you know it has that going for it. On the driver assistant front, the 8 Series comes standard with cruise control (with braking function) along with Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking. There’s a standard Head-Up display to go with Active Park Distance Control, and there’s even Microsoft Office integration because, you know, you want your 8 Series to be a mobile office too…

How Fast is the 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe?

At the time of launch, it will be offered in 840d, a diesel-powered, inline-six toting powerhouse and the M850i with a 523-horsepower V-8. According to BMW, the M850i will make the run to 62 mph in as fast as 3.7 seconds – a feat made possible by standard xDrive AWD and an upgraded eight-speed automatic with a launch-control function (sorry, three-pedal fanboys.) This engine, by the way, now has 553 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the inline-six diesel drinker is 3.0-liter mill with 320 horsepower and a staggering 501 pound-feet of torque. It’s nowhere near as fast as that V-8, though, hitting 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. It too comes with xDrive as standard equipment with a rear-biased system that will only divert torque to the front when absolutely needed.

BMW 8 Series Driving Scenes Video

BMW 8 Series Engine and Performance Specifications

Final Thoughts

At this point, it’s nice to say that the 8 Series is finally here. It’s a bit surprising BMW didn’t delay the debut after that fatal accident in the prototype just a few days ago, but to each their own, I guess. The new 8 Series is an attractive and sporty car, and it’s actually nice that it’s a bit smaller than the Mercedes S-Class. That should make it handle a little better, and with the lower stance, it’s naturally a little more aggressive. Pricing for the U.S. Market has yet to be released, but the U.K. prices convert to a price range of $101,929 to $132,847 – about what you would expect a flagship like this to run and a likely price range for the U.S. as well; give or take a few dollars, of course.

Further reading

BMW 8 Series

Read our full speculative re view on the 2019 BMW 8 Series.

Read our full speculative review on the BMW M8.

Read our full review on the BMW 8 Series Concept Coupe.

Read more BMW news.