BMW readying 8 Series Gran Coupe and Convertible

Design renderings of two-door convertible and four-door 'Gran Coupe' versions of recently revealed BMW's 8 Series Coupe have been leaked online.

The images, discovered by car blog motor1.com, were unearthed after a trademark application was lodged by the German car-maker with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, which will replace the 6 Series Grand Coupe, has been on the cards since BMW revealed the M8 Gran Coupe at the 2018 Geneva motor show in March this year, while the 8 Series Convertible will replace the 6 Series Convertible.

These renderings confirm the final shape of both the 8 Series sedan and convertible, which along with the 8 Series Coupe will be sold alongside the 6 Series Gran Turismo.

Interestingly, however, BMW's flagship 8 Series Gran Coupe is said to measure in around 90mm shorter than the current 5 Series.

The 8 Series will share its platform, engines and transmissions with the 7 Series limousine.

That means it will be offered with a 390kW 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 in the 850i xDrive or a 235kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel straight-six in the 840d xDrive.

All versions will come with all-wheel drive and a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission.

This will ensure both the four-door coupe and two-door convertible will hit 100km//h in less than four seconds.

Later on, a lower-output twin-turbo petrol straight-six is likely to power a 40i-badged version and a plug-in hybrid is also in the pipeline.

Thanks to double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear-end, the 8 Series coupe, convertible and sedan should be among the best to drive in their respective classes, which include the Mercedes-Benz CLS and S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, and the new Audi A7, plus top-shelf sedans like the Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera.

Inside, the new 8 Series derivatives will come with the BMW's latest iDrive 7.0 operating system that uses a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

What both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and Convertible do miss out on is the coupe's carbon-fibre roof panel, although the drop-top eschews a heavy folding metal roof for a far lighter fabric hood.

It's not known when BMW plans to unveil the 8 Series Gran Coupe or Convertible but it's thought the drop-top will come first and that both models will be released globally in 2019.

The born-again 8 Series Coupe, which follows the original sold between 1989 and 1999, will be the first to arrive here -- by the end of this year, including the blistering new M850i xDrive Coupe powered by a 390kW 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.