Page 47 - WinterEdition2017

BMW enthusiasts have been impatiently waiting for BMW to reveal the long-await- ed second-generation BMW 8 Series. “The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” said BMW CEO Harald Krüger. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next
model in the expansion of our luxury-car o ering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leader- ship in the luxury class.”
"For me, it's a slice of pure automotive fascination"
At the front, the nose plunges down toward the road more aggressively than any other BMW. That nose also features massive kidney grilles. The hood is also sharply creased and the front air intakes are simply enormous.
It’s in pro le and from the rear three-quarters that this concept looks best, though, which is ironic because that’s also where the original 8 Series looked its best. From the rear, the BMW 8 Series Concept looks as subtle and ele- gant as the original. The taillights feature BMW’s signature “L” design with a bit of funk to them and the rear deck is sculpt-
ed nicely.
Inside, there’s de nitely a sporty pretense about the interior of this concept. The driver sits low in the carbon ber-backed buckets, which are lightweight, thin and covered in supple leather. The new steer- ing wheel features three hand-polished aluminum spokes with the rim wrapped in alcantara and red shift paddles.
The center console beautifully ows up to the instrument panel, which is fully digital. The center console also ows upward to house the iDrive screen and a completely new shift-lever. Next to the shift lever is a red “Start/Stop” button, the iDrive rotary knob which received a
bit of a makeover and is now a knurled aluminum knob that looks far more upscale. A black gloss touch pad remains on top of the rotary knob and is covered in Swarovksi glass with a “Smoky Quartz” look.
“The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It is a lux- urious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.” Availability 2018.
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THE BMW 8 SERIES
UNADULTERATED DYNAMICS AND MODERN LUXURY – THE ESSENCE OF A BMW COUPE.