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Wikipedia: BMW 8 Series
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's BMW 8 Series page on 18 May 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The BMW 8 Series is a Grand Tourer built by BMW from 1989 to 1999 powered by either a V8 or V12 engine. In 1999, BMW discontinued the 8 Series because of low demand and sales. However, in 2017, BMW announced a new generation to be available from 2018 and previewed it with the BMW Concept 8 Series. BMW also confirmed that the second generation will get an M version.
First Generation (E31; 1989-1999)
Design of the first generation 8 Series, the E31, began in 1984, with final design phase and production development starting in 1986. The vehicle debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in early September 1989 and was in production until 1999. The 8 Series was designed to move beyond the market of the original E24 6 Series, with greater performance and an even higher purchase price. The 8 Series offered the first V-12 engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox on a road car. It was also one of the first vehicles to be fitted with an electronic drive-by-wire throttle. The 8 Series was one of BMW's first cars, together with the Z1, to use a multi-link rear axle.
BMW Concept 8 Series
The BMW Concept 8 Series was a concept car that previewed the second generation 8 Series, which BMW has announced will be launched in 2018. The Concept 8 Series was revealed online in May 2017, and has made its public debut at the 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Its design has so far been met with critical acclaim by experts and fans alike. BMW has also confirmed that there will be an M8 and has revealed a camouflaged prototype. BMW’s Concept 8 Series arrived on North American shores at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The Concept 8 Series, according to BMW, is “The essence of a modern-day BMW coupe wrapped up in an enthralling design study.” But this is a design study that works and compared to the spy photography of the upcoming production 8 Series, it closely resembles the real thing.
Under the hood sits a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 pulled from the brand’s other offerings. Other engines will likely make production, such as the company’s twin-turbocharged inline-six cylinder, and possibly the top-of-the-line twin-turbocharged V-12 that sits in BMW’s M760Li.
Set to signal a new era of BMW design, BMW’s Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, said, “The concept [8 Series] expresses the new BMW design language from all perspectives and in all details. From the dynamic-looking front to the striking flanks to the clean-cut tail end: a few lines and the subtle interplay between surfaces are enough to generate a sense of power and emotion.”
BMW announced that it would race a GTE-spec M8 for the 2018 motorsport season in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January under the GT Le Mans class, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June under the GTE Pro division which will mark the manufacturer's return to the race after a 7-year absence.
Second Generation (G14/G15; 2018-)
The BMW 8 Series is an upcoming car based on the Concept 8 Series. It is due to be released in 2018. It will have the internal designations BMW G15 (Coupé) and BMW G14 (Cabrio) The series production of the coupe should begin in 2018 in Dingolfing.
At the 2017 IAA the M8 GTE was presented. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2018, the M8 Gran Coupe Concept was presented.
In April 2018 the M850i xDrive Coupe was revealed. Equipped with a V8 making 390 kW (523 hp) and 750 N-m (553 lb-ft).
| Date | Article | Author/Source |
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| 16 May 2018 | Petition for Exemption From the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; BMW of North America, LLC | Federal Register: NHTSA (Raymond R. Posten) |