BMW unveiled the Concept 8 Series on the eve of its public debut at the annual Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza. The car ushers in a new design language for the Bavarian brand, and is a precursor for BMW’s push into the ultra-luxury sector, which is expected to begin with the new X7 next year.
In the video above, BMW Group’s Senior Vice President of Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, explains not only what the new car means for BMW’s future form language, but also delves into the design details of the Concept 8 Series itself.
“The design of the BMW Concept 8 Series provides a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW styling cues and it also showcases a new approach to the use of forms which is reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing,” says van Hooydonk. “A handful of crisp lines mark out clear surfaces, and the car’s volumes are powerfully sculpted. Together, these elements make a forceful statement and create a model brimming with character. In short, this is a driver’s car.”
SUBSCRIBE TO FORM TRENDS ON YOUTUBE
The BMW Concept 8 Series’ design leads consisted of exterior designer John Buckingham (a Coventry University graduate now working at BMW Group DesignworksUSA in California), lead interior designer Robert Hlinovsky (he also worked on the Vision Connected Drive concept and the new 7 Series interiors), and Martina Starke (former head of color and trim design, material technology and design quality and current head of BMW brand vision and brand design at BMW in Munich).
Codenamed G17, the production version of the Concept 8 Series is expected to make its debut in the fourth quarter of 2018. It is pegged as a replacement for the 6 Series — the current flagship BMW coupe — which will be superseded by a five-door 6 Series GT to rival the Porsche Panamera and Audi A7 models.
Head over to read a more detailed story on the BMW Concept 8 Series design here.
