Roominess at the Top: BMW 8 Series Debuts in Concept Form

If your 7 Series has friends and club patrons pretending not to know you, BMW has the answer: its upcoming, resurrected 8 Series. Once again, BMW has decided to carve out some space at the top of its model range, this time to rebuff efforts by Mercedes-Benz to lure buyers in the six-figure luxury market.

It’s big, it’s long, it’s expensive, and it’s…a concept. While buyers can expect some deviations between the BMW Concept 8 Series premiering at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and the final production model, this vehicle seems pretty fleshed out. Also, unlike such styling efforts as the Buick Avista, this vehicle will actually see production.

It was only this month that BMW confirmed a year’s worth of rumors and copped to the 8 Series’ return.

The automaker calls this “enthralling” design study a “taster” of things to come. Scheduled for a launch sometime next year, the 8 Series will debut in traditional coupe form, though it’s rumored to get a droptop variant to better rival the S-Class Cabriolet.

Selling cars has lately become a more difficult business than in years past, but selling high-zoot luxury barges remains a very lucrative practice. BMW hopes to increase cash flow from the upper rungs of its lineup with the returning model.

“The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” said Harald Krüger, chairman of BMW AG’s board of management, in a statement.

“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 offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”

While the Concept 8 Series bears a couple of design study hallmarks — namely, no door handles and side mirrors too small of be of practical use — the sheetmetal is another story. The deeply scalloped flanks, front fender vent, 21-inch wheels and hood power bulge telegraphs muscle and athleticism, while the flowing roofline, lengthy proportions and pillarless side glass is all about grace and elegance. BMW wants to attract both camps with this two-seater.

Of course, there’s no mistaking the brand with those twin kidneys up front. Because the automaker plans to field a range of models in the 8 Series lineup, including M variants, lesser offerings might not appear so visually aggressive. The gaping air vents and carbon fiber flourishes are likely candidates for deletion.

While the automaker hasn’t provided any images of the vehicle’s interior, it insists you’ll find it both sporty and luxurious. Shocker, that.

Neither has BMW dished any specifications for the upcoming model, though it is expected to field existing eight-and 12-cylinder mills from the BMW Group parts bin. Between BMW and Rolls-Royce, there’s no shortage of capable powerplants. Pricing should see the model put distance between itself and the 7 Series, with one source claiming a starting price of about $165,000.

[Images: BMW Group]