| The BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe in action during a test drive near Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Courtesy of BMW Korea |
By Nam Hyun-woo
JINDO, South Jeolla Province ― BMW has debuted the new 8 Series in Korea, offering a charming option for wealthy motorists looking for a luxury grand tourer with extraordinary dynamics.
BMW Korea on Thursday held a launch and test event of the new 8 Series vehicles in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, showcasing three models in the series ― the 840i xDrive Coupe, the 840i xDrive Gran Coupe and the 840d xDrive Gran Coupe.
The 8 Series has returned to the market after a 20-year hiatus and is now the brand's most advanced performance-oriented sedan, which had been held by the 6 Series.
The 8 Series Coupe models are 4.85 meters long, 1.9 meters wide and 1.34 meters high. The four-door Gran Coupe model is slightly bigger than the coupe models.
The gasoline versions ― the 840i Coupe and Gran Coupe ― have a six-cylinder engine yielding up to 340 horsepower and 50.9 kilogram-meter torque. This propels the Coupe to 100 kilometer per hour in 4.7 seconds from standstill. For the bigger Gran Coupe, the same takes 4.9 seconds.
The 840d is powered by a diesel engine producing up to 320 horsepower and 69.3 kilogram-meter torque. Both the petrol and diesel models are coupled with an eight-speed sports transmission.
Of the three models, The Korea Times tested the Gran Coupe on a 300-kilometer course linking Jeonju and Jindo County, South Jeolla Province.
The Gran Coupe exterior drew attention with its oversized kidney grille, which automatically closes when the engine needs to warm up. Alongside the grille, the vehicle's sculpted and exaggerated sidelines produce a muscular and aggressive look.
| The crystal-decorated gear knob of the BMW 840i xDrive Gran Coupe. / Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo |
Though BMW Korea described this car as "a sports car," driving the 840i Gran Coupe was closer to an elegant cruise, due to the car's stability at high speed.
The vehicle showcased monstrous acceleration, attractive engine sound and excellent ride comfort, but hardly showed a sports-car-like sharpness in steering ― a virtue customers expect from a high-performance BMW vehicle. Rather, it would be better to describe the car as a well-made grand tourer that can express a controlled "madness."
The 840i xDrive Coupe is priced at 138 million won, the Gran Coupe is 134.1 million won and the diesel version 135 million won.
For those who are wealthier and want more "madness," BMW Korea plans to roll out the M8 Coupe Competition here, which creates 625 horsepower and takes only 3.2 seconds to reach 100 kilometers per hour from standstill. The M8 Coupe Competition is priced at 239.5 million won.
| The energy storage system that powered a BMW Korea booth during the test session of the new 8 Series in Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Courtesy of BMW Korea |
On the sidelines of the event, BMW Korea also revealed plans to expand its eco-friendly vehicle lineup, as well as showcasing an energy storage system (ESS) using 10 used batteries from i3 electric vehicles.
During the test event, BMW Korea powered its main booth in Jindo County with electricity only from the ESS, which stored power generated from a wind-power farm on Jeju Island. It was the first time in Korea that an ESS supplied electricity while disconnected from its power source.