BMW 8 Series Convertible unwrapped

BMW is forging ahead with its model offensive in the luxury segment with the launch of the 8 Series Convertible.

The new flagship open-top sports car blends sporty driving properties with distinctive design elegance.

Two powerful engines will be available from launch in March 2019. The 390 kW/530 hp V8 petrol engine in the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible takes to the stage with characterful power delivery and a soundtrack to match.

The BMW 840d xDrive Convertible is fitted with a six-cylinder in-line diesel engine developing 235 kW/320 hp.

Press Release:

Exterior design: powerful design language, distinctive lines

The BMW brand’s new design language employs precisely drawn lines and muscular surfacing to give the new BMW 8 Series Convertible a distinctive aura defined as much by sporting prowess as outright elegance.

With an exterior length of 4,843 millimetres, width of 1,902 millimetres and height of 1,339 millimetres, plus a 2,822-millimetre wheelbase and track widths of 1,619 millimetres (front) and 1,642 millimetres (rear), its dimensions match those of the BMW 8 Series Coupe almost exactly.

The body cuts a dynamically stretched figure with the roof down especially.

The protruding front apron lends the front end of the car undeniable athletic presence with its large air intakes.

These make an even more dominant impression on the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible (as standard) and

BMW 840d xDrive Convertible (as part of the optional M Sport package).

Adaptive LED Headlights are part of standard specification.

Meanwhile, the optional BMW Laserlight with variable road illumination and Selective Beam generates a high-beam range of around 600 metres.

The eye-catching surfacing of the car’s flanks is complemented at the transition into the rear end by distinctive contouring around its rear haunches.

Horizontal lines, light units extending well into the flanks and a third brake light integrated into the boot lid all contribute to the low-slung, wide impression created by the rear end.

Taut soft-top roof with fully-electric operation

The new BMW 8 Series Convertible’s folding roof stands out with its weight- minimising design and superb acoustic insulation.

It pulls taut over the interior when closed, lending the car a strikingly stepped, coupe-like silhouette.

The soft-top, which comes in black as standard but is available in Anthracite Silver effect as an option, opens and closes fully automatically and at the touch of a button in 15 seconds.

The hushed roof operation can be activated with the car travelling at up to 50 km/h (31 mph).

When opened, the soft-top stows away under a cover whose surface structure and stitching match those of the instrument panel and interior door/side panel trim, and which features eye-catching domes at the level of the rear seats.

Harmonious design of exterior and interior

The cohesive harmony between the exterior and interior is revealed particularly effectively when the soft-top is down.

The occupants of the four seats are surrounded by the sweeping flow of the instrument panel, the door shoulders, the shoulder area around the rear seats and the soft-top compartment cover.

The side window border sits flush with the soft-top compartment surround, underlining the connection between the front and rear of the car.

The entire ambience of the interior conveys dynamism, elegance and distinctive luxury, and the standard ambient lighting emphasises the forward-focused lines inside the car.

The new BMW 8 Series Convertible is also furnished with fulled leather trim for the instrument panel and door shoulders, plus electrically adjustable sports seats and Vernasca leather upholstery.

The multifunction seats fitted as standard in the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible are trimmed in Merino leather with extended features.

Both the sports leather steering wheel in the BMW 840d xDrive Convertible and the M leather steering wheel in the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible have multifunction buttons and gearshift paddles.

Wind deflector as standard, neck warmers as an option

Standard equipment for the new BMW 8 Series Convertible includes a wind deflector which can be set up in the rear-seat area to prevent unwanted air turbulence when driving with the top down.

For an even greater feel-good factor when driving with the top down in cooler weather, the new BMW 8 Series Convertible is available with optional neck warmers whose air outlets are integrated into the front-seat head restraints.

Other optional extras include climate seats, a Heat Comfort package with a heated steering wheel, and the BMW Display Key.

Available as an optional alternative to the standard Harman Kardon Surround Sound System are the high precision and excellent sound quality of the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System.

And customers can also specify glass applications for selected controls and options from the BMW Individual range.

The rear seat bench in the BMW 8 Series Convertible can be split 50:50 as standard, with both elements folding separately to offer a through-loading facility.

When the roof is closed, load capacity is 350 litres.

Aerodynamics, weight and safety optimised

An almost fully sealed underbody, active air flap control, Air Curtains and extremely slender exterior mirror stalks optimise the new BMW 8 Series Convertible’s aerodynamic properties.

An intelligent mixture of materials helps to reconcile exacting and conflicting demands when it comes to combining body rigidity with minimised weight.

All of which means only a small number of convertible-specific measures have been required.

Indeed, these are restricted to additional cross struts and a specifically designed shear panel for the underbody.

Another special feature specific to the new BMW 8 Series Convertible is the rollover protection system, which consists of two protective aluminium bars fitted out of sight behind the rear-seat head restraints.

If the car is likely to turn over, the bars are extended by a pyrotechnic charge in a fraction of a second.

Characterful V8 petrol engine, silky-smooth six-cylinder diesel engine

A 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine from the latest generation infuses the new BMW M850i xDrive Convertible with imposing power delivery, its characterful soundtrack given further impact by the flap-controlled M sports exhaust system.

The engine’s M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology includes two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling nestling in the V between the cylinder banks, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.

Developing 390 kW/530 hp and peak torque of 750 Nm (553 lb-ft), the V8 accelerates the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds.

The new BMW 840d xDrive Convertible benefits from a type of engine no other car in its segment can offer – a 3.0-litre straight-six diesel.

The unit’s BMW TwinPower Turbo technology comprises multi-stage turbocharging and common-rail direction injection with piezo injectors.

The maximum output of 235 kW/320 hp and peak torque of 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) encourage relaxed cruising at low engine speeds and powerful mid-range sprints (accompanied by the model-specific sports exhaust system’s fully-throated soundtrack) in equal measure.

The BMW 840d xDrive Convertible accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds.

Eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, BMW xDrive, M Sport differential

Both engines meet the Euro 6d-TEMP standard.

They channel their power through to the road via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW xDrive.

The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is tuned to have an appreciably rear-wheel bias in the new BMW 8 Series Convertible, ensuring it offers the signature driving experience of a BMW sports car.

Dynamic performance is further enhanced by the M Sport differential also fitted as standard on the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe.

As well as improving traction, the locking effect produced by an electric motor in the rear differential optimises the car’s agility, and is particularly effective in enhancing dynamic acceleration out of corners.

The chassis: know-how from the race track delivers unbeatable dynamics on the road

The construction principles underpinning the chassis and the deployment of BMW M GmbH racing expertise to optimise its set-up maximise the car’s agility, precision and performance.

The new BMW 8 Series Convertible comes as standard with mixed tyres and Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers.

Thanks to finely metered spring and damping responses, the driver is provided with only relevant information on the road surface.

The likewise standard Integral Active Steering reduces the car’s turning circle when manoeuvring, increases agility and optimises poise and assurance when changing lanes and cornering at high speeds.

Active roll stabilisation, which is available for the new BMW M850i xDrive Convertible as part of the optional Adaptive M suspension Professional, ensures particularly fast and precise compensation of lateral forces during dynamic driving manoeuvres, enhancing agility and directional stability both into and out of corners.

The electric swivel motors also increase comfort in straight-line driving by responding to disruptive forces resulting from road surface imperfections on one side of the car.

Standard specification for the BMW M850i xDrive Convertible also includes an extremely powerful M Sport braking system, 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with high-performance tyres, exclusive exterior features in Cerium Grey, illuminated door sill strips with model badges and interior trim strips in stainless steel mesh design.

The optional M Sport package for the BMW 840d xDrive Convertible contains 19-inch M light-alloy wheels, an M sports exhaust system and illuminated door sill strips with M logo.

The BMW 840d xDrive Convertible is also available with the M Technic Sport Package, which brings 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with high-performance tyres, an even more potent M Sport braking system, the M Sport differential and extended BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim.

Further scope for individualisation comes in the form of the Chrome Line Exterior and M Carbon Exterior packages.

State-of-the-art driver assistance systems enhance comfort and safety

Comfort and safety on board the new BMW 8 Series Convertible are boosted by state-of-the-art driver assistance systems.

Standard equipment includes the Head-Up Display and the Driving Assistant, which comprises the Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning system with City Braking function, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change Warning, Speed Limit Info, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Collision warning.

Among the items on the options list are Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Driving Assistant Professional (extra features include the Steering and lane control assistant) and BMW Night Vision.

Also standard is the Parking Assistant, which includes a rear-view camera and the Reversing Assistant.

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