6 Astonishing Tech Gizmos and Cool Features of the new BMW 8 Series

The BMW 8 series is a fascinating exercise in design, technology, and style. It also sits at the high-end of the BMW lineup, and that is an incredible place to be as it is full of magic, science, emotion, and prestige. I am presenting you Six amazing features of the new BMW 8 series as well as the most outstanding technology which BMW plans to use to fight the S-class Coupe and its likeness.

1 - BMW Laser Light Tech and the Thinnest Headlights Ever

Sitting at the top of the BMW lineup, the 8 Series gained some of the most striking and advanced tech features imaginable. The BMW Laserlight system is definitely one of them. Developed with the i8 Concept and then introduced with the 7 Series and the new X5, the BMW Laserlight landed on the 8 Series as well.

It is such an important tech that the Bavarians crafted a special design cue to separate it from all other headlight tech on the market. Aside from blue accents inside the headlights which are a trademark of the highly advanced technology,the headlights on the new BMW 8 series are the slimmest of any BMW model ever. The “hierarchy” within the BMW 8 series headlights offering goes as follows:

-* LED headlights as standard,

-* Optional Adaptive LED Headlights,

-* High-end gives us access to BMW Laserlights with Selective Beam.

BMW Laserlight tech works differently compared to LED and standard headlights. Although called the Laserlight, in this case, lasers do not directly hit the road. Instead, lasers are directed towards an intricate set of mirrors in the headlight assembly, then forwarded to the chamber with yellow phosphorus. This material reacts when exposed to intense light additionally increasing brightness. So much so, that what once was yellow light transforms into white light. This light is then diffused through the lens and precisely directed towards the road.

Not only does light like this shine 10 times brighter compared to LED generated light, but it also consumes 30 percent less energy.

Furthermore, regardless of its complexity, it requires compact assembly, enabling designers to create the slimmest headlights in BMW history. BMW Laserlight is able to project light 600 meters ahead. Striking.

2 - Double-Bubble Roof

Envisioned by Zagato in the Fifties, the double-bubble roof was a trademark of some courageous sports cars of the era. Ever since it appeared on the Zagato bodied 1952-1955 Fiat 8V Competizione, the double bubble design has been almost exclusively used for capable, sports cars.

Now, not so much.

Even the Toyota Aygo - a European supermini, has the double bubble roof. Nevertheless, no one can question its presence. Especially on a car like the 8 Series.

“The roof of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe takes a leaf from the book of traditional sports car design by featuring a central cutout that recalls the “double-bubble” styling of classic racing cars,” BMW stated in their press release. “This design feature furthermore mimics the rush of air rearwards along the roof at high speeds.”

The same design cause is applied to the optional CFRP lightweight roof. It is the first time a BMW production model has been equipped with a CFRP roof (bear in mind, I am not writing here about Motorsport cars – we'll leave that discussion for another time. Apart from being a cool stylistic detail, the lightweight roof lowers the center of gravity further giving even more stability and pose in the corners (not that one would actually feel it, though).

3 - Glass on the Gear lever and on Other Selected Controls

As far as design details go, this one may be the best. BMW formed an awesome glass gear lever for the BMW 8 Series eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission (quick digression - it comes with Launch Control). With a stylized and illuminated number 8 sitting inside the glass gear lever, the exclusivity and concept-like ambient of the cabin has been largely enhanced.

If you cash out enough, glass decoration can adorn the iDrive Controller, start/stop button, and the volume knob.

Of course, having a glass gear lever in a car with less than admirable interior decor would be tacky. Here, however, with leather everywhere, and most importantly, stainless steel mesh design of the central console, the glass gear lever fits like a glove.

4 - BMW Digital Key

Revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February this year, the BMW Digital Key promised drivers that they would not have to carry a physical key for their car anymore. The premise is a simple one - with installed BMW Connected app on your Samsung phone (initially only Samsung,) the app could communicate with the car via NFC (near-field communication) tech and lock/unlock the car.

Apart from being capable of locking and unlocking the car, the BMW Connected app can be set to start the engine when placing the phone on a charging pad.

While announced only months ago, the BMW 8 Series already has it. However, the first time I have heard of this kind of tech is back in 2015 when BMW released the 7 Series. Now, the BMW Digital Key is available for the 7 Series and for the new X5 as well. Although I presume it is still a highly limited tech.

Nevertheless, having it available with top of the line cars could prove Ian Robertson’s case, BMW board member, about not needing an actual key.

Back in 2017 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, he said:

“Honestly, how many people really need it .They never take it out of their pocket, so why do I need to carry it around?” He also added, “we are looking at whether it is feasible, and whether we can do it. Whether we do it right now or at some point in the future, remains to be seen.”

Well, they’ve done it. But BMW is not the first. Far from it. The Tesla Model 3 does not need a key.

5 - BMW Live Cockpit Professional

BMW Live Cockpit Professional is not just an instrument panel and infotainment system. It is a package of advanced technologies and services designed to increase safety, improve convenience, and offer seamless control of all the features the BMW 8 series has in store (and that is a lot).

Muscles

High-resolution display with a diagonal screen of 12.3 inches dominates behind the steering wheel. It is complemented with a crisp 10.25-inch Control Display in the middle, both controlled by four different means of interaction. Apart from that awesome glass iDrive Touch Controller, one can activate certain functions via voice control, BMW gesture control, touch screen, or the controls on the steering wheel.

Impressive.

Additional features include an adaptive navigation system, a 20 Gb hard-drive-based multimedia system, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and WiFi tech.

Brains

Someone clever needs to run it all appropriately. That someone is the new BMW Operating System 7.0 designed to optimize attention control. Programmers had only one thing in mind - to make it smart enough to present only relevant information at just the right time. I guess I am trying to say something incredible. The system will learn from the driver and adapt to their habits and present needed information accordingly. As this is a sports car, the driver can even track “the lateral acceleration during high-speed cornering.” It is that smart.

Add-ons

To further its luxury prestige, BMW offered a fine suite of Connected Package Professional services which includes Remote Services, Concierge Services, and Real Time Traffic Information.

6 - Grand Tourer? Yes! Luxury car? Yes! Sports Car? Definite Yes!

This is not a fact per se, but it is a structured shablon of thinking behind the BMW 8-Series development gurus.

Having to compete with the likes of the Aston Martin DB11 (don’t kill me for mentioning it), the Lexus LC500, the Mercedes S-Class Coupe, the Maserati GranTurismo (or this), the BMW 8-Series simply had to be all of those things mentioned in the title. But the truth is that the car is actually mostly the last thing - a sports car.

Watching the official videos that BMW released, one theme seems to be prevalent. They filmed almost all of the material on a racetrack. Look at some of these pics too. They are all shot on the track.

Furthermore, unveiling the car next to the racing M8 GTE only hours before the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race proved that BMW wants to reimagine the hardcore sport ethos they have cherished for so long.

Despite BMW's unsuccessful Le Mans foray this year, the BMW 8 series certainly packs the punch of sports cars. Especially with the M850i xDrive Coupe M Performance. It is a car with:

-* Rear-biased AWD

-* Carbon fiber roof (optional)

-* Adaptive dampers (standard)

-* Double-wishbone front suspension

-* Five-link rear axle suspension

-* Integral active steering

-* Limited slip differential

-* 395 mm M Sport brakes

-* M Sport exhaust system

Global product manager for the 8 series, Sarah Lessmann, added that “everyone in the project had the vision of BMW getting back to sports cars, and not just sporty cars.”

I believe her. I believe they managed to do just that.