While the new engine might weigh the same as its predecessor, the redesign offers 68 more horsepower for a total of 530 hp. Torque is rated at 553 lb-ft, and it arrives at only 1,800 rpm. With specs like these, this car should outperform any M6 along with any other luxury coupe. BMW has wisely abandoned the dual-clutch transmission, and the new 8-speed Steptronic is a beefy traditional automatic.
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Christian Billig is head of Drive System Integration, and he said: “The new V8 engine offers exactly the right balance between performance and emotion, which is what also sets the new BMW 8 Series Coupe apart. Above all, the eight-cylinder harmonizes perfectly with the further developed Steptronic transmission during dynamic acceleration. At the same time, the sound development of the sports exhaust system authentically reflects the car’s power delivery. And thanks to BMW xDrive and active rear axle locking, the engine always transfers power precisely to where it can be best converted into driving dynamics."
The new 8 Series is seen as a successor to the i8 and Z8, and it is probably twice as fast as the V12 powered E31 coupes. Those 8 Series examples have mostly been sidelined by expensive repair costs and single digit mpg. So the resurrection of the 8 Series is one of the most anticipated cars in years, and we can barely wait to get behind the wheel. Stay with us for all your BMW updates and click the link below to find a BMW near you.