BMW 840i Gran Coupé - a luxury looker for four

The new BMW 8 Series is not the first of its kind, but dates back to the last millennium. The iconic two-door luxury coupé BMW 8 Series E31, launched in 1989, was in production for around ten years.

The BMW 840i Gran Coupé G16 is part of the new generation of the BMW 8 Series family. In addition to this four-door coupé, the car is available as a two-door convertible or hard-top model.

Four-wheel drive as standard

This time we didn’t get a chance to look at the equipment list before the test drive. The first thing that caught the eye when leaving the car park was the agility of the four-wheel drive system.

BMW’s Integral Active Steering four-wheel steering makes the five-metre-plus car remarkably agile to drive and manoeuvre, especially in parking spaces and at lower speeds. In terms of agility, the car even compares favourably with a hatchback the size of the BMW 1 Series in terms of rear-end feel.

Four-wheel steering comes as standard on all 8 Series models, regardless of model or engine.

The quality is high..

Inside, you can sense the quality in the smallest details. Of course, this is to be expected when prices for the 8 Series models start at just under EUR 140 000.

Drivability is, as expected, at a very high BMW level, but the 8 Series now offers a first-class interior for the design-conscious and quality-conscious.

The interior is best described as spacious and bright, with light flooding into the white interior from the full-roof panoramic glass roof. The gear stick is like a work of art with the number 8 glittering inside.

The music is provided by the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround system from the optional equipment list. The system has 16 speakers, 1400 W of power and a price tag of almost EUR 8 000.

For the more discerning, this still leaves something to be desired, and is a slight disappointment in terms of sound quality amidst huge expectations.

The sound quality lacks a certain depth. This Bowers & Wilkins system does not live up to expectations when compared to the much cheaper Harman Kardon system.

…and plenty of power

The 8 Series hasn’t compromised or skimped on the engines.
Fortunately, a four-cylinder engine has not been added to the range to spoil the manliness of this car.

At the heart of the 840i test car is a supercharged three-litre straight-six that delivers 340 horsepower. Maximum torque of 500 Nm is available in the rev range 1600-4500 rpm.

For those looking for more power, the M850i is also on the list, with a V8 mill offering 530 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque, not forgetting the impressive engine soundscape.

For diesel men, there’s also a three-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine. The diesel engine is only available with the test-driven Gran Coupé.

Whatever your engine choice, driving pleasure and efficiency are guaranteed. Each model has enough power for everyday driving and acceleration from zero to 60 km/h is between four and five seconds, depending on the model.

Seats 2 2

Seats for four people. In the rear, space is divided by a central centre console for added comfort. The centre console has separate temperature controls for each side.

Both sides of the rear doors have buttons for sunshades, which can be adjusted on the rear and side windows at the touch of a button.

A little extra luxury wouldn’t be a bad thing in a car of this price – for example, there are no massage seats in the back, even on the options list. For taller people over 185 cm, the headroom in the rear seats quickly becomes cramped.

The BMW 8 Series is at its best when the owner wants to enjoy driving the car himself, and the family is not around every day. In terms of looks, the two-door Coupé or Cabrio is in a class of its own compared to the four-door Gran Coupé.

For those looking for a luxury car, the BMW 7 Series offers considerably more luxury and practicality, but when the features on the shopping list are the driveability and the sleekness of an eye-catching coupé, the 8 Series is the right choice.