BMW 8 Series Revealed in all its Glory Before the Official Debut

The BMW 8 Series is set to make its official debut sometime today and, sure as the day is long, someone has managed to leak a set of official images prior to the big event.

Leaked Images of the BMW 8 Series

As expected, the production model doesn’t skew away from the concept very much, but there are some notable differences. First off, almost all of the body lines are toned down, with the exception of the central body line on the side profile which is actually sharper. As far as the front end is concerned, there’s actually a lot different here. The headlights are larger and feature the commons half-hex LED lights, while the grille is smaller and sits much higher up. The nose as a whole is actually flatter, and the air dam takes on a completely different look. The corner vents resemble those of the M2.

On the side profile, that aggressive fender vent is no longer integrated with the side skirts, instead serving as the basis for the concave area in the doors that leads to the rear quarters. The side skirts take on more character but don’t like as supercar-ish. Everything above the beltline has stayed largely the same, but the side view mirrors are a bit bigger.

It’s the same story around back – everything above the beltline has remained the same. Even the rear decklid is nearly identical. The taillights are a bit different, however, and don’t have as much of a 3D effect. Reflectors have been integrated into the rear bumpers and the corner vents a little lower are now much smaller than before. As such, the corners of the rear fascia are now larger. It’s not a bad look, but it does lead to a larger, more recessed license plate area. The rear diffuser \ bumper insert is not more aggressive and features rectangular exhaust outlets.

It’s not an unattractive car by any means, but it’s not as much like the concept as some of us really expected. It is sporty as hell, though and somehow that’s all that really seems to matter at this point.

BMW 8 Series Interior

The leaked image of the interior shows some more drastic change in comparison to the concept. As an example, the HVAC vents in the corner are now wider and bent while the dash takes on a different look too. The center stack is more upright and also features two small HVAC vents. The sleek control panel below the infotainment screen is no more. The gear shifter and console trim appear nearly identical, but the storage space ahead is now smaller. The steering wheel is completely different from that of the concept, and we’re guessing the seats and instrument cluster are too.

All told, BMW certainly isn’t afraid to throw in some extra buttons, which seems a little odd considering how sleek and clean the interior of the concept is. There seems to be a lot going on here, and BMW probably would have done better to stick with the layout from the concept. That slanted center stack might have made for a little less passenger room, but it looks much more upscale. We have a feeling that the first facelift, or at the very least, the next generation, will see the inclusion of this sexier center stack and console.

When Will the 8 Series Officially Debut?

We don’t have an exact timeframe for the official debut of the BMW 8 Series, but we do know that it’s happening today, June 15, 2018. Until then, we have a couple of pictures for you to enjoy. Check back soon for the latest news once the new 8 Debuts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Final Thoughts

Opinion about the interior and exterior of the 8 Series aside, I have to come out and say that these leaked images are starting to become so common that we know they aren’t “leaked” images. This kind of thing has happened with every major debut this year that I can recall. It’s a marketing gimmick created by automakers to drive more attention to their debuts that always happen shortly thereafter. Not that I’m complaining, but don’t think that there is anyone getting in trouble over all of these image leaks. With that said, we’re excited to see more images of the 8 Series and what the full interior actually looks like. As a full-fledged flagship model, it should have the best of the best, so expect tons of technology, lots of power, and a few surprises too.