While in Portugal attending the international media launch of the BMW M850i Coupe and new Z4 Roadster, we had the opportunity to speak to Bernd Limmer, Project Manager BMW 8 Series. The name might be familiar to those that have been keeping a close eye on the M Division, Limmer has been one of the top M Engineers for years and responsible for a series of M products.
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Now he’s joined the 8 Series project to bring some of his M engineering expertise to create a true driver’s car. From the beginning of the project, Limmer said that the idea of the new 8 Series was not to recreate another 6 Series, but rather a brand new vehicle, that’s more than just a 5 Series platform with two doors. Therefore, the 8 Series runs on the modular CLAR architecture and not on the supped up 5 Series platform.
“The key was to build the 8 Series like an M car,” says Limmer. “With anti-roll bars, we raised the sportiness, while keeping a good level of comfort also,” added Limmer. “You can drive very easy and fast with the 8 Series.”
The new 8 Series was engineered with a rear-wheel bias, despite offering an all-wheel drive xDrive option as well. The electronic damper system in the 8 Series offers a wide range of driving dynamics, from comfort to sport, while delivering plenty of stiffness in the chassis of the 8 Series, something that BMW believes is still important in this market.
Yet, to make the 8 Series feel light on its feet and easy to handle, a four-wheel steering system was added as well. Up to 60-70 km/h, the four-wheel steering works counterwise, then in the 70-80 km/h range it has a more neutral approach, while over 80 km/h, the wheels steer in one direction.
Limmer said that BMW wanted the 8 Series to feel more like a 3 Series while driving, rather than a large gran tourer.
“The car has to be very easy to drive, without disturbance from DSC, rear axle, it has to be seamless,” Limmer told us. “Sometimes too much is not good. We want the 8 Series to be easy to drive fast.”
Testament that BMW pays attention to all details in their car is the new, special set of tires from Bridgestone. Those mixed tires were refined for the M850i models to offer maximum grip and side forces. Limmer says that Michelin tires are offered as well, depending on the market.
Engine sound has been a hot topic in the BMW world in the last few years, and BMW engineers are paying attention to what customers want and demand. Therefore, the new M850i Coupe comes with a tuned up exhaust system which delivers that blurb we expect from an M car. Even in Comfort mode, the M850i Coupe opens its valves under full throttle and highways speeds, to deliver that growling sound. But, at lower speeds and low RPMs, the valves are being closed to fulfill the strict emission regulations.
Limmer also talks at length and with enthusiasm about the new ZF eight-speed transmission, which has been part of the BMW family for years. The new gearbox in the M850i is in its latest generation which brings extremely fast and smooth shifting. The refined ZF box has a wider band in the first to third gear (for CO2 reasons), while the maximum torque of 750Nm is delivered between 1800-4600 RPM.
Track performance was equally important for the 8 Series project leaders, but Limmer said that they still wanted to leave room for the M8 models.
“On the track, the M850i should have a linear characteristic, easy to drive and handle, without feeling too much intervention from the driving assistance systems,” Limmer says. Of course, the DSC OFF mode will let you have a lot of fun on the track, should you require.
All new for the 8 Series is also the brake-by-wire system which cuts the physical link between the pedal and the brake system itself. The brake pedal becomes just an interface through which the driver informs the car how much they want to slow the car down, the car then interprets that input, and activates the brakes. Sensors and actuators read the amount of pressure a driver inputs, and this force is transferred to all the brakes from the master cylinder using hydraulic fluid.
Therefore, even when the brakes get heated, the driver will experience the same behavior as before – same brake point, same travel, same characteristics. If you’re one of those guys that would like to push the car to its top 1 percent driving capabilities, you might get a “Hot Mode” brake warning on the dashboard, before the car will decrease its power. In our experience, the different in the braking system is noticeable, with no shake of the steering upon heavy braking or reduced braking capabilities after a few track laps.
Even though many have rushed to compare the new 8 Series Coupe to the more luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Limmer says that their goal was really to offer an Aston Martin DB11 competitor. He sees the M850i Coupe, specifically, as sitting between the S-Class Coupe and the super sporty Porsche 911.
“The 8 Series and the M850i is a gentleman’s car, for the old school driver who’s also interested in the latest and greatest technology and driving performance,” Limmer concluded.
I’m falling more and more in love with this car.
I hope Limmer is not just talking PR, but that once the driving starts to happen, the reports will confirm all of this. This car should be out performing the S-Class coupé and DB11 – easily. 911… can’t see that happening, tho.
There is a Joe Achilles video with the younger Bovensiepen driving a current B7 down the Autobahn at an indicated 207 mph having a normal conversation. Mind blowing when you think there well could have been two more passengers in the backseat.
I rode with the ALPINA CEO a few times, once on the track on Laguna Seca while he was racing Bill Auberlen. I wish I did a video a of it, awesome experience
beautiful car
also check this video of the alpina b7 the rear lights dont just switch off, they like swipe away so cool go to 2:19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ClRQC6Z51E
BMW’s lame attempt at trying to beat Audi at the lighting game… it’s a cool concept, but Audi did it better.
So? I’m getting off driving a 6 figure vehicle because tail lights? Nein.
no lol
Audi did virtual cockpit much better than BMW, too.
Too bad they don’t have a vehicle to put it in to compete with the 8 Series.
OMG that’s incredibly cool!! So lovely how they did something that nobody else is doing, most brands are just copying Audi. Thanks for the video.
Hey Senne, what would be your dream spec M2? mine would be frozen black
Is the engine the same of the M8?
How has the 8er become more sportier and more M, when M8 weights more than it’s precedure and more than the M6?
More hp., more steering, more BMW, more M. And more to come…
Just finished reading AC UK review for this car. Overall, decent effort but significantly short of class leaders. It doesn’t excel in any way in any yardstick.
Sums up everything about what BMW has largely been over the past decade – Mediocre !!
5 Stars – evo
4/5 – What Car?, Car
“Welcome back, big dog” – Pistonheads
“Hubba hubba!…has a definite sportiness baked right into it…steering feel is right on…feels strong. What a surprisingly fun car to hoon around a track!…great car…Great job, BMW” – Motor Trend
“Punching above its weight…big, powerful 8 Series is a return to form for great-driving BMW sports coupes.” – CNET
All of them have said that its a GT not a sports car as BMW wants us to believe. AC UK also said that its interior can’t compete with A7, S coupe and Panamera. It is a likeable effort but not an exceptional car in any way.
The most baffling point that MT pointed out is that it is based on 5 series. So essentially its a 6 series successor donning 8 series badge and pretending to be next level of 7 series. One can learn a thing or two about ‘shortchanging’ from BMW. For the record, the S coupe is based on S class platform. An already proven uber luxury carmaker is not cutting any corner whereas the challenger brand is trying short cuts to trick (read – fool) customers to think that it is selling pinnacle of what BMW stands for.
As reported here in May, BMW actually refer to the 8er as “gentleman’s racer”, appropriate for a car that ran LeMans. Auto Express for one disagree with Autocar, stating it occupies a unique niche between luxury & sport, so no, not “all of them”, @ over 2 tons I don’t think anyone confuses 8 with a sports car, but Motor Trend do enjoy it as a track car. Given BMW Individual it’s also impossible to make a uniform statement about the interior because, like Rolls-Royce Bespoke, they can be custom fitted. While the original 6 was 5 Series based, today all rwd. BMW are CLAR, so as much 7 as 5, yes the S is just a rebodied sedan. Not only are BMW not cutting corners, trying short cuts to trick (read – fool) customers, but they actually charge a premium for what will be a smaller volume pinnacle, in fact a range of them given Cabriolet & Gran Coupe. I would apply the word fool in another context here, not to the customers of this gorgeous car which I have actually seen. You?
Budd, In all that ranting I fail to see any specific point. Granted you have seen it, driven it, being nearly run over by it but you clearly don’t understand that their can be differences of opinion.
Have i tried crossing you when you defer with lot more knowledgeable and more objective minded auto journalists? no. You can also stop ranting especially when you dont understand how 7 and 5 series platforms are actually significantly different.
And this is why BMW are always lacking, “the latest and greatest technology” before “driving performance”. Planning on getting a 718 or 911. This would not be on my short list at all.
This is not a 911 Competitor. You’ll see why in my review tomorrow.
Looking forward to the read. It was odd for Limmer to bring up the 911 in pricing scale. Guess if I wanted a lazy car to cruise around in…. might as well get a SUV for that
While Porsche are rear- and mid-engine, why compare to front-engined? Different physics, like comparing 4 cyl. to 6, 8, or 12. Porsche gave up on front-engine after the great, lamented 928.