What It Is: A four-door version of BMW’s new 8-series coupe that was previewed by the Concept M8 Gran Coupe at the 2018 Geneva auto show. Although BMW is billing it as a completely new entry, it is slotting in as a more upmarket replacement for the current 6-series and resurrects the 8-series nomenclature used on the 1989–1999 original.

Why It Matters: The first-generation 8 was exclusively a two-door coupe, although the cars did have small back seats. In elevating the four-door Gran Coupe from 6-series to 8-series status, BMW is establishing it as the pinnacle four-door offering for the brand.

Platform: The 8-series Gran Coupe will ride on a cut-and-sewn version of BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, which also underpins the current 5-series, and is built with a mixture of various materials including steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. The chassis features a multilink rear suspension, adaptive dampers, and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential.

View Photos Chris Doane Automotive Car and Driver

Powertrain: The Gran Coupe will borrow powertrains from the two-door 8-series, which is set to launch with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. It boasts 523 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque at 1800 rpm. The M850i comes with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel drive, but a rear-drive model is expected in the future. The impending M8 version—of both the Gran Coupe and the two-door—is expected to borrow the M5’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 that makes 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque and also features an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. An M5 with the Competition package bumps power up to 617 horsepower, so that’s a potential powerplant for this car as well. A turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six also is possible but not official yet, while Europe is expected to get a diesel powertrain that the U.S. market will not.

Competition: Audi RS7, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-AMG GT four-door, Mercedes-Benz CLS-class, Porsche Panamera.

Estimated Arrival and Price: While the two-door version already has been unveiled, the 8-series Gran Coupe and 8-series convertible will debut later this year. The new 8-series Gran Coupe will be priced at a premium over the price of the outgoing 6-series Gran Coupe, which starts at $82,495. Expect to pay six figures.

View Photos Chris Doane Automotive Car and Driver

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