The BMW Group is using this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to unveil the BMW Concept 8 Series, the essence of a modern BMW coupé wrapped up in an enthralling design study. The study car will serve as a taster of a forthcoming BMW model, the new 8 Series Coupé.
«It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination», says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. The BMW Concept 8 Series is immediately recognisable as a BMW, but also displays new design ideas and form-building techniques. «The design of the Concept 8 Series provides a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW styling cues», adds van Hooydonk, «and it also showcases a new approach to the use of forms which is reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing».
The silhouette of the BMW Concept 8 Series spreads low and powerfully over the road. The interplay of a long bonnet and flowing roofline bring dynamic allure to the car’s flanks, while the striking upward sweep of the concept’s trailing edge provides a crisp conclusion to the car’s rearward flow and adds another sporting flourish. The rear is defined by the interplay between volumes and lines, which extend around from the flanks and shape the rear section of the car.
The interior focuses on the essential: the task of driving. Once behind the wheel, the driver is wrapped in the tightly enclosed ambience typical of sports cars. Among the standout design elements in the interior are the fluid transition from the instrument panel into the doors and the sporty, enveloping feel of the interior. This impression is magnified by the smooth connection between the centre console and instrument panel, which together form the nucleus of the interior.
