6 series instead of 8

[dsad1]

Just curious, does anyone else feel that BMW made a pretty big mistake by not originally naming the refreshed 2012 6 series the 8 series?

It seems like they are trying to fix the mistake now, but I would guess it would have done much better if it were originally brought in as an 8 instead of a 6. The 6 series always had an identity issue, even BMW couldn't decide if it was their flagship or not. Technology was always slow to arrive because the 7 series always needed to be better, if it were originally an 8, they wouldn't have had the dilemma.

[Qsilver7]

In my opinion...it was a similar decision like 30 something years ago when the e24 6 series and e31 8 series where on the market.

Both are large luxury sport coupes built for a specific target market. The e24 6 series was a gussied up coupe that was squeezed between the e34 5 series and e32 7 series. The e31 8 series was a technology filled luxury coupe that took things a step further...even being offered with the V12 engine found in the e32 or e38 7 series and debuted some of the newer technology like ASC+T & DSC just like the e32 & e38 750iL.

Then there was that special e31...the 850 CSi (with its M-tuned S70 engine).

These early 6 & 8 series models had a limited run but offered a luxury sport coupe. Again, the 6 series had the same engines offered in the 5 & 7 series, but had some luxury/sporting options like the L6 that offered leather from stem to stern...as well as self leveling suspensions etc....and the 8 series with its I6/V8/V12 engine offerings and technology offerings that rivaled the flag ship 7 series...but in a 2-door coupe version.

The new generation 6 series Grand Coupe`targeted buyers that wanted a large 4 door luxury sedan but a sporty look...and preferred driving vs being chauffeured.

[jjasonSU]

I'll always view this 8 as a successor to the outgoing 6er.
To me, it's clear they were looking for a revival of the large coupe, and the 6 series sales were stagnant.

No this is not in S Class Coupe Category, neither was the 6. So IMO they're in the same spot with a new name

[Havy]

And here we go. It looks so awesome.

[jjasonSU]

That's mean

[polar993]

That’s hot!

[BMPOWERED]

My problem with BMW abandoning the 6 series market spot and going up to an 8 is that they now really don't have direct competition with the other 4 door coupes out there ie. CLS, A7/S7, and Panamera. The most expensive of those, the Panamera, starts at around $85k and the others around $70k. As of now we know the 850 coupe is $111k. And the GC is typically a couple grand more. I would estimate that even when/if an 840 GC hits the market, it would have to be at least in the low-mid 90k range - keep in mind the 840 will need to remain above the 740 which starts around $84k. How does BMW expect to compete with the competition given such a huge price disparity? Especially given the Porsche will likely still be better dynamically than the BMW.

[Havy]

Originally Posted by BMPOWERED

........As of now we know the 850 coupe is $111k. And the GC is typically a couple grand more......

Now we know why it’s called gran Coupé.

Sorry for that, I couldn’t resist.

[dclin]

I'm just perplexed the 6 series is now represented by the bizarre GT series (after the last of the F06 and F12s are sold out). BMW went to all this trouble to rename the cars odd/even numbers based on 2 or 4 door (besides the gran coupes), just to have the G32 become a '6 series'.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by dclin

I'm just perplexed the 6 series ... bizarre GT series ... BMW went to all this trouble to rename ... the G32 become a '6 series'.

(Read in the voice of Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies TV show) Hush up, now....we don't talk about the G32 6GT...you know (read in a whispered voice) it looks like it's not right.. it ain't normal. [ / end whisper ] Dey put it inna category all by its lonesome cause no other models wanna be next to it. [ /end granny's voice ]

We all know that it started as a 5GT...and it should have stayed a 5 series...but 5 series proponents probably didn't want to have anything to do with it...so BMW moved it into the defunct 6 series nomenclature.

[jdsaengine]

I just saw a new 640 GT on the road the other day, and just said, "What the heck is that little hatchback doing badged as a 640??" Thing looked like a 3 series size.

[FBMWWINS]

I love the new 8 series and just saw a few this weekend at BMW World in Munich. But for me the current 6 series models (non-GT) still stand tall next to it and in any other possible ways. The design is still very up-to-date in my opinion and while more conservative and perhaps less "catchy" then THE 8, it still makes statements and in many places people will still turn around and WOW our cars, especially the way many of you guys around here have treated your 6es!
Further I have sat in a couple of 8 series at a couple of dealers and I am not so sure the interior is really such an update compared to the 6 series. Many 6 series especially (but not only) those with ceramic elements and a full merino leather interior hardly have anything to envy.

[dsad1]

Originally Posted by F06WINS

I love the new 8 series and just saw a few this weekend at BMW World in Munich. But for me the current 6 series models (non-GT) still stand tall next to it and in any other possible ways. The design is still very up-to-date in my opinion and while more conservative and perhaps less "catchy" then THE 8, it still makes statements and in many places people will still turn around and WOW our cars, especially the way many of you guys around here have treated your 6es!
Further I have sat in a couple of 8 series at a couple of dealers and I am not so sure the interior is really such an update compared to the 6 series. Many 6 series especially (but not only) those with ceramic elements and a full merino leather interior hardly have anything to envy.

That is what I am getting at, the 8 is just a refreshed 6, if they would have made the f12/f06 an 8 as well, the car would have probably evolved much faster.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

In my opinion...it was a similar decision like 30 something years ago when the e24 6 series and e31 8 series where on the market.

Both are large luxury sport coupes built for a specific target market. The e24 6 series was a gussied up coupe that was squeezed between the e34 5 series and e32 7 series. The e31 8 series was a technology filled luxury coupe that took things a step further...even being offered with the V12 engine found in the e32 or e38 7 series and debuted some of the newer technology like ASC+T & DSC just like the e32 & e38 750iL.

Then there was that special e31...the 850 CSi (with its M-tuned S70 engine).

These early 6 & 8 series models had a limited run but offered a luxury sport coupe. Again, the 6 series had the same engines offered in the 5 & 7 series, but had some luxury/sporting options like the L6 that offered leather from stem to stern...as well as self leveling suspensions etc....and the 8 series with its I6/V8/V12 engine offerings and technology offerings that rivaled the flag ship 7 series...but in a t-door coupe version.

The new generation 6 series Grand Coupe`targeted buyers that wanted a large 4 door luxury sedan but a sporty look...and preferred driving vs being chauffeured.

I think they never decided until now whether they will have a range of "top end" cars with the 8-series designation concurrently with the 6-series. The answer is obviously "no", that the 6er/8er large coupe will be the top of the range.

There has never been an overlap of a 6 and 8 until now.

[SpokenHands]

Took an extended test drive in a high-spec 850i and later in the 840d coupe and, frankly, did not find a sufficient reason to upgrade my high-spec 640d.

Sure there are some cosmetic improvements to the switchgear and screens in the cente console but I found very little else that was worth paying £118,000 (for the 850i with high spec) and close to £87,000 for the 840d. In act in some ways the swooping dash and the retro M-Sport steering wheel has more character than the anonymous dashboard design.

Ride quality was marginally improved
Road noise and Wind Noise was significantly reduced - so this is better

The Harmon Kardon upgraded stereo was awful - highly recommend the Bower & Wilkins system if you're an audiophile. Both sound less good on Bluetooth (which is not the case in my Range Rover so I see this as a defieciency

All in all - I would take the new S-Class Coupe or the soon to be launch Audi eTron GT if you want to upgrade