From：Greg Kable 2018-11-02 07:00:01
BMW has revealed the new 8-series convertible ahead of a planned public debut for the plush new two-door at the Los Angeles motor show later this month.
Conceived to rival a number of existing up-market convertibles, including the latest Bentley Continental GTC and Mercedes-Benz S-class cabriolet, the new BMW open-top forms part of a three-model-strong resurrected 8-series line-up that also includes the recently introduced 8-series coupe and the upcoming four-door 8-series GranCoupe set to be unveiled later next year.
The indirect replacement for the earlier 6-series convertible is planned to go on sale in China early next year with deliveries planned for the second half of 2019, according to officials at BMW's headquarters in Munich, Germany.
Predictably, the new 8-series convertible mirrors the look of the new 8-series coupe, with a bold front end and muscular lines. Its multi-layer fabric roof, which comes in a choice of either a standard black or optional anthracite colour, opens in 15sec at the touch of a button at speeds up to 50km/h, automatically stowing beneath a tonneau cover trimmed with the same slush moulded plastic as the dashboard and door trims at the rear of the two-plus-two cabin.
BMW claims an overall 350-litres of boot capacity with the roof in place, though this is reduced when it is stowed. To accommodate lengthy items, the rear seats split and fold in a 50:50 configuration to free up greater load space.
A plastic wind deflector similar to that already seen earlier 6-series convertible can be erected to reduce wind buffeting when travelling with the roof down, although it requires the rear seats of the 8-series convertible to be unoccupied.
Despite its higher positioning, the new 8-series convertible is 54mm shorter than the old 6-series convertible at 4843mm in length, while its width and height are put at 1902mm and 1339mm respectively. It also uses the same wheelbase as the recently introduced 8-series coupe at 2822mm.
By comparison, the latest Mercedes-Benz S-class cabriolet measures 5027mm in length, 1899mm in width and 1417mm in height while touting a 2945mm wheelbase.
The 8-series convertible will be sold from the outset of European sales in March 2019 with the choice of just two Euro-6d Temp certified engines. They include a turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder diesel engine with 235kW and 680Nm of torque at 1750rpm in the 840d xDrive convertible and a turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol unit that delivers 390kW and 790Nm of torque at 1800rpm in the initial range-topping M850i xDrive convertible.
Both engines come mated to a standard eight-speed torque converter equipped ZF-produced automatic gearbox and BMW’s four-wheel drive xDrive system. The M850i xDrive convertible also receives an electronically controlled rear differential lock - a feature that is available as an option on the 840d xDrive convertible.
Official BMW performance claims see the 1955kg 840d xDrive convertible accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.2sec and hit a top speed limited to 250km/h while delivering combined cycle consumption of 5.1L/100km and average CO2 emissions of 155g/km on what the German car maker describes as NEDC adjusted WLTP test figures.
Despite tipping the scales some 60kg above its diesel sibling at 2015kg, the M850i xDrive convertible is claimed to run to 100km/h in just 3.9 and reach the same limited 250km/h top speed while returning similarly adjusted combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.5L/100km and CO2 emissions of 225g/km.
Details pertaining to the Chinese line-up are yet to be revealed, though BMW officials hint the initial two model 8-series convertible range will be extended with both 840i convertible and a 441kW plus M8 convertible models during 2019.
