Blog BMW has talked to “source with a good track record” of what’s available in store for the 8 Series. The rumor sounds like BMW car is continuing on the path suggested earlier this year kills 8 Series coupes and convertibles, keeping only the Gran Coupe for the next generation that will launch in 2026 or later. The new twist in the scuttlebutt is that this next-gen GC 8 will only run on batteries. The BMW Blog didn’t mention a tidbit from a January report that the 8 Series would fork into a 7 Series model and merge with the 4 Series to launch a new 6 Series, but combining the two sounds like a no-brainer. seems reasonable. Range 7 has been remade with ICE and electric versions. An electric 8 Series Gran Coupe will become a 7 Series Gran Coupe, while the ICE 8 Series coupe and convertible will become a new 6 Series.
Of course, it’s all just speculation. The sales numbers of the 8 Series are not speculative. The coupe, cabriolet and Gran Coupe models appear to be on track to achieve 7,000-8,000 annual sales in the US, just as they have done in the past two years here. However, the numbers in Europe this year are also down significantly, just like in 2021 compared to 2020.
There are still a lot of questions. The BMW Blog suggests that the automaker “may be looking at simplifying the 8 Series lineup and keeping only the best-selling products.” Based on whispers so far, we’re not sure if anything is being simplified or it’s merely being converted to electricity and/or relabeled. If BMW is doing like every other automaker, slashing lineups both to save money on large-scale electrification and to maximize production amid supply shortages, the 8 range cuts into a sportier electric 7 Series Gran Coupe would make a lot of sense. Let’s say 4 Series and 8 Series coupes and convertibles are used to revive a 6 Series coupe and convertible – ostensibly, that’s getting rid of two cars. But it strained confidence to think that 4 would die and BMW would leave the 3 Series without a coupe or convertible option. If the 4 Series dies but the 3 Series picks up one or two new variants – that would be the old variants that became the 4 Series – then there may be no vehicles scrapped.
What is clear is that the world is wide luxury sedan and GT is the path of the electron. The Taycan was here. Maserati just revealed it GranTurismo Folgore. Audi’s there is an electric A9 E-Tron that is expected to launch in 2024, a Bentley EVs are due in a year or two. Jaguar is said to be fully electric with trio intersect in 2024, but we won’t be electrocuted XJ or the new GT launches around the time that the next 8 Series is predicted to launch. BMW Blog says the Munich carmaker has about three years before the launch to make a decision, meaning plans will begin to be implemented in about a year from now.
