BMW Rounds Out 8 Series Fam With Cheaper 6-Cylinder Coupe, Convertible
BMW is rounding out its new flagship 8 Series lineup, announcing the less expensive 2020 840i coupe and convertible civilian models with turbocharged inline-six-cylinder power that will go on sale in September.
Related: Longer Wheelbase, 4 Doors Put the ‘Gran’ in 2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
The 8 Series launched with the V-8-powered 2019 M850i coupe and convertible. The lineup was bulked up with the recent announcement of the four-door 2020 840i and 850i Gran Coupes. Also unveiled were the 2020 M8 coupe and convertible, which sit atop the line in price, twin-turbocharged V-8 horsepower (600 to 617 horsepower) and high-performance equipment. All of these also are arriving in the fall.
The 840 two-door variants combine the looks, luxury features and options of the coupe and convertible with BMW’s less raucous but very competent turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The latest version puts out 335 hp and 368 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard paddle shifters and launch control. The smart transmission’s electronic control system is able to use navigation and sensor data to alter shifting to suit current driving conditions, including downshifting early when approaching intersections and minimizing unnecessary shifts between closely grouped corners.
The powertrain is offered with rear-wheel drive in the 840i coupe and convertible, and with rear-biased and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive in the 840i xDrive model that, like the rear-drive variant, has an electronic locking rear differential. Adaptive shock absorbers are standard on all models. The 840i models get 18-inch wheels standard with larger sizes optional.
BMW estimates that the six-cylinder coupe and convertible with rear-wheel drive will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 4.7 and 5.0 seconds, respectively, while their times with AWD will be 4.4 and 4.6 seconds. Both are 0.8 second slower than their AWD-only 2019 M850i equivalents with 523-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-8s. But bragging rights go to the M8 coupe at 3.1 seconds or 3.0 with the optional Competition package.
The 840s won’t push you back in the seat as much, but they also won’t set you back as far to own as the V-8. Prices start at $88,895 for the 2020 840i coupe and $98,395 for the convertible (all prices include $995 destination). The 840i xDrive variants will start at $91,795 for the coupe and $101,295 for the convertible. Prices for the 2020 M850i xDrive models have not been announced, but the 2019s start at $112,895 for the coupe and $122,395 for the convertible. On the other hand, you can have two more doors and save $3,000 with the 840i and 840i xDrive Gran Coupe variants.
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