For as long as I can remember, people who have reached a certain level of success in life tend to buy a car that reflects their status. And if they have even a drop of petrol in their veins, the choice inevitably leads to a grand tourer (instead of a Bentley Bentayga).
It’s been nearly a century since the first GT cars emerged from Italy, and although many things have changed, the core principles remain the same—extravagant design, a luxurious atmosphere, and a powerful engine.
In today’s SUV-dominated era, traditional GT coupes are losing some ground, but manufacturers are adapting. Modern interpretations of the grand tourer concept have emerged, adding practicality through increased rear space and an extra pair of doors. That’s exactly what the BMW 8 Gran Coupe represents—a four-door “coupe” with a diesel engine and all-wheel drive. This is a 21st-century GT.
Design
When I first set out to evaluate the design of the “8”, I was ready to give it four out of five for attractiveness. But then I stopped and thought—for a few days with the Gran Coupe, I received more attention than I can remember with any other car. There were kids admiring it and running to bring their friends over, and at one traffic light, the people in a neighbouring Alfa Romeo Stelvio examined it from tyres to roof. When even Alfa enthusiasts take notice, you know it’s serious. In short, I felt like I was driving not a BMW, but a Ferrari.
What’s behind this effect? The main reason, in my opinion, is the car’s dramatic proportions—long, low, and wide. Then come the elongated bonnet, the muscular rear arches, and all the lines and contours, further highlighted by the optional Frozen Bluestone paint. It’s a matte grey metallic with a subtle blue tint—absolutely stunning, but priced at around €4,000.
Other distinctive elements include the narrow headlights and taillights, as well as the twin kidney grille, which BMW once described as “large” at launch—but today looks almost modest.
Personally, I’m genuinely impressed with the design. I even think the Gran Coupe looks better than both the coupe and the convertible. The only element I truly dislike is the oversized trapezoidal exhaust surrounds—they feel fake and, frankly, a bit tasteless.
Interior
On one hand, the interior of the 8 Gran Coupe feels like any other BMW. On the other, it’s the most luxurious BMW I’ve experienced. A big reason for that is the Individual two-tone Merino leather interior, combined with an Alcantara headliner (which, despite common confusion, is not leather). This represents the highest level of craftsmanship BMW offers, and at over €6,000, it’s one of the most expensive options available.
Despite the familiar BMW layout, the atmosphere reminded me of another classic grand tourer—the Maserati GranTurismo. Objectively, though, the Germans deliver superior build quality, finer detailing, and that signature practicality.
Speaking of practicality, the 8 Gran Coupe offers a surprisingly usable rear bench, with good legroom. However, anyone over 1.80 m will likely find their head brushing the roof over bumps—something you’ll experience quite often on our roads. The rear seats are individual, separated by a high centre console housing controls for the four-zone climate system and seat heating.
Storage space is less impressive. Door pockets are narrow, though there’s more room under the central armrest. There’s also a space for a smartphone ahead of the gear selector, with wireless charging—but I experienced issues with it, including interruptions and slow charging. I’ve had similar problems in the BMW Z4.
Speaking of the gear selector—it’s one of the highlights here. The “CraftedClarity” option adds glass elements to the gear lever and certain buttons. The craftsmanship is excellent, but to my eye, it’s a bit over the top. I much prefer the simpler glass design used by Volvo.
Another detail worth mentioning is the seats. I like that the side bolsters are adjustable—you can tighten them for more dynamic driving—but I had some discomfort with the backrest. The piping seemed to press into my shoulders.
Technologies
I’m adding a separate “Technologies” section—not because BMW offers something radically different, but because everything simply works very well.
The infotainment system is excellent—intuitive, fast, and supported by physical buttons that make operation easy even while driving. For those who prefer touch, the screen supports it, and some functions can even be controlled via gestures. While I don’t see much point in waving my hand in the air to adjust the volume (there are buttons on the steering wheel for that), the ability to turn off the display with a gesture is genuinely useful.
Driver assistance systems also deserve praise. While I’m not a huge fan of most of them, I have to admit they work accurately and naturally here. I was genuinely surprised to see the car follow its lane even where the markings were almost worn out. Of course, where markings are completely incorrect, the system gets confused and warns the driver to take control—which raises a different question about infrastructure quality.
One feature I particularly liked is the parking assistant’s ability to remember the last 50 metres driven and automatically reverse the car along that path. Extremely useful if you find yourself in a poorly designed parking situation—or, as a Roadhunter author, when you accidentally take a wrong turn.
I’ll finish with the car key. It does offer some useful functions, like remote climate control and customisation, but it’s large, has a slow display, and needs frequent charging. Not for me, thanks!
On the road
The version I tested is a modern GT not only because of the extra doors, but also because of its drivetrain. The engine is a diesel. From there, things sound more traditional—a straight-six with 320 hp and 680 Nm. Power goes through an eight-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels. The result is 0–100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and an official average consumption of 6.3 l/100 km.
After a long break from test drives due to the pandemic, starting my week with a car like the “8” felt great. I got in and joined the heavy traffic on Cherni Vrah boulevard. My first impression was that the car is big. Even manoeuvring out of the parking space, it felt like the edges were far away from me, and scraping a wheel or bumper wouldn’t be difficult. With a length of over five metres and a width of 1.93 metres, that feeling is fully justified.
Visibility isn’t great either—the seating position is low, the rear window is rather narrow, and the A-pillars, combined with the large side mirrors, create noticeable blind spots. Thankfully, as mentioned earlier, the assistance systems work very well.
In the city, the “8” actually reminded me of something from Bavaria’s neighbouring region—Mercedes-Benz. It’s extremely well insulated, and the suspension deals surprisingly well with imperfections, even on 20-inch wheels. In this sense, the Gran Coupe is a calm and relaxing car that helps you forget the stress of urban driving. What’s interesting is just how different its character becomes when you find the right road.
“For me, that “right road” was a section in the Iskar Gorge, which I discovered during a Sunday drive with Club Speed BG. The full route of my test had a destination—Ledenika cave near Vratsa. I planned to get there via the Iskar Gorge, take a few detours along side roads, and return via Botevgrad. It’s a route that offers a huge variety of roads and gives a good idea of what a GT car can do on a trans-European journey.
After passing Lakatnik, it was time to explore the other side of the “8”. Ahead of me—narrow, steep uphill roads, good asphalt, and plenty of corners. Direction—Milanovo. Mode—Sport.
It felt like driving through an Alpine pass. And the car is well prepared for that. The optional M Technic package includes a sport differential and M brakes with 395 mm discs. The suspension is adaptive, and xDrive versions (everything except the 840i) also get Active Steering—essentially four-wheel steering. At speeds below 72 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front, effectively shortening the wheelbase and improving agility.
I pushed hard uphill. In Sport mode, gear changes become sharper, the engine (and speakers) louder, and the suspension stiffer—though not dramatically so.
The car feels fast, although subjectively it doesn’t quite match the official figures. In corners, the behaviour is mostly neutral. Depending on inputs, you can provoke slight oversteer or, in some cases, understeer. Overall, control is easy, and it’s clear that the steering and suspension work in excellent harmony to mask the car’s considerable weight.
The brakes are very powerful, but modulation is slightly tricky due to their non-linear response. The Active Steering system, however, impressed me—it enhances agility without feeling artificial. In contrast, in something like the Megane R.S., which also has rear-wheel steering, the behaviour can feel slightly unpredictable.
As for fuel consumption, real-world figures range between 7.5 and 9.5 l/100 km, depending on how enthusiastic you are. Even though that’s above the official 6.3 l/100 km, it’s still a good result for a car of this size and performance.
Conclusion
The BMW 8 Gran Coupe successfully combines the prestige of large coupes with improved practicality and everyday usability.
As expected from a GT, it blends luxury and comfort with the ability to deliver engaging driving dynamics when the road—and your mood—allow it. The design is striking and draws attention wherever you go.
The diesel drivetrain may seem unusual for this class, but it actually enhances everyday usability thanks to its long range. It’s also smooth and refined, making it an excellent choice—unless you’re chasing the explosive performance of the larger petrol engines.
Prices start at around €97,000 for the 840i and €99,500 for the 840d xDrive. However, if you want to take full advantage of the model’s exclusivity—optional equipment, special colours, and performance packages—the price can easily increase by over €25,000.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
