The 8-Series Coupe Is Dethroning the 6-Series as the King of BMW’s Lineup, And We’re Ready to Worship

Rich jaws were on the floor when it debuted at this weekend’s Pebble Beach car show.

BMW plans to reenter the premium luxury coupe market with an all new 8-Series coupe that brings the spinning propeller’s luxury coupe from the ’90s to the ’20s with the debut of of the concept 8-Series.

The car’s debut after the end of BMW’s unfortunate “flame surfacing” era of design means the 8-Series skipped that trying-too-hard styling theme during its absence. The new car marries traditional Bavarian styling elements such as the twin-kidney grille with ultramodern squinty-eye LED headlights.

“The design of the BMW Concept 8 Series provides a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW styling cues,” adds Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president of design for BMW. “And it also showcases a new approach to the use of forms which is reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing. A handful of crisp lines mark out clear surfaces, and the car’s volumes are powerfully sculpted.”

The hallmark of the 8-Series concept’s cabin is an instrument panel that flows seamlessly into the doors and center console.

The good news for the driving enthusiasts is that BMW is already brewing up a hot M8 version of the car, with plans to introduce a race version of the car at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January.

“The conception and development of the standard BMW 8 Series and the M model have run in parallel,” explains Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “The future BMW M8 will build on the genes of the 8 Series and augment its DNA with added track ability and generous extra portions of dynamic sharpness, precision and agility.”

It looks like the 8-Series will be worthy of the name on its badge and worth the wait for fans.