BMW’s flagship 8 Series brings backa storied namefrom the 1990s. But that original 8 Series model was only available as a coupe. That makes the 2019 BMW 8 Seriesconvertiblethe first of its kind. The drop top debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and goes on sale in the United States in March 2019.
Just like thenew 8 Series coupe, the 2019 8 Series convertible will launch in M850i xDrive form. That means it gets a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (that’s what “xDrive” means in BMW-speak). The V8 produces 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque — the same as the M850i xDrive coupe. BMW said the convertible will do 0 t0 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds slower than the coupe. Both versions have a top speed of 155 mph.
The M850i xDrive won’t be the last word in performance, though. We know BMW is planning amore potent M8 versionof the 8 Series coupe, so it’s likely that the convertible model will eventually get the same treatment.
BMW gracefully adapted the 8 Series’ styling to accommodate the lack of a roof, but the overall effect isn’t too dramatic. A luxury convertible should make a major styling statement, but because this convertible has been preceded by the 8 Series coupe,conceptandracing versionsof said coupe, and variouscamouflaged prototypes, the car already feels a bit familiar. The 8 Series has a power soft top that can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. The seats can also be equipped with neck warmers to make top-down driving more comfortable in cooler weather.
The convertible features the same long list of tech features as the 8 Series coupe, including adaptive LED headlights with BMW’s LaserLight system, adaptive suspension, and Integral Active Steering, which is meant to make the 8 Series more maneuverable at parking-lot speeds. The convertible can also use BMW’s Open Mobility Cloud to connect to Apple and Android smartphones and smartwatches, or Google Home and Amazon Alexa smart-home devices.
The lavish iDrive infotainment system includes a 10.25-inch central screen and a 12.3-inch screen that takes the place of a traditional instrument cluster. The standard head-up display includes a night-vision feature — just like on an early2000s Cadillac DTS.
Finally, the 8 Series convertible is available with an array of driver aids. The adaptive cruise control system works at speeds up to 130 mph, and can brake the car to a full stop and pull away after being stationary for up to 30 seconds, BMW said. A park-assist feature can automatically steer the 8 Series into parking spaces, according to BMW. Other notable features include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist.
The 2019 BMW 8 Seriesconvertiblemade its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, but sales won’t start until winter begins to abate in March 2019. Pricing will start at $122,395 (including a mandatory $995 destination charge), or $9,500 more than the 8 Seriescoupe.
