At the #NEXTGen19 event held in BMW’s home city of Munich, there were several jaw dropping cars on display. For starters, the BMW Vision M NEXT showed off what a BMW M1/i8 hybrid would look like. Then there was the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster, an all-electric sports bike for the future. However, despite all of the futuristic designs and high-tech electrification, a car that stood out just as much was a good ole fashioned internal combustion engine car. The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe.

That’s because the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the prettiest car the brand makes, full stop. It looks great in photos but it looks even better in person. Its stance is athletic, its curves are sedutive and its shape is elegant. It’s even prettier than the 8 Series Coupe and that’s hard to do. It just has so much presence in person. It’s hard to get noticed among other stunning cars but the 8 Series Gran Coupe manages to do so. In fact, it not only manages to get noticed but it stands out from a lot of the crowd.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the four-door version of the 8 Series lineup. Effectively, it replaces the 6 Series Gran Coupe, despite being placed a bit higher in BMW’s pecking order. Like its spiritual predecessor, the 8er GC is designed to be a more practical, livable grand touring car, while also providing more luxury than the Coupe. For example its back seats are obviously much larger than those in its Coupe sibling. While three passengers can fit in the back in a pinch, the middle passenger better be a child or have very short legs.

This was our first experience seeing the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe in person and we can’t wait to see more of it and, eventually, drive it. Then comes the BMW M8 Gran Coupe.