Introduced about two years ago, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé was the Munich brand's response to proposals such as the Porsche Panamera, the Audi A7 Sportback and the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door.
BMW is already preparing the facelift of this model, but while that doesn't happen, the biggest coupé of the German brand continues to reveal an enviable shape, not least because it recently underwent a slight update.
A year ago we made an appointment with him in the M8 Competition version, with 625 hp. Now we got behind the wheel of the 840d xDrive version, which showed us — once again — that Diesel isn't dead.
And that's precisely where we're going to start, with the kinematic chain. At the base of this BMW 840d xDrive Gran Coupé is a 3.0-litre, in-line six-cylinder twin-turbo Diesel block that now produces 340 hp of power and 700 Nm of maximum torque.
Thanks to these numbers it is able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5s and reach 250 km/h of maximum speed (electronically limited).
What about consumptions?
But in addition to the power boost and torque boost, the 840d xDrive also features a 48V mild-hybrid system, which integrates a small electric motor into the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
This slight hybridization is also noticeable in the emissions, which are now lower, and in consumption, whose combined average announced by BMW varies between 5.6 and 5.9 l/100 km. However, at the end of this test, where I covered approximately 830 km, the recording in the on-board computer showed an average consumption of 7.9 l/100 km.
The carbon emissions from this test will be offset by BP
Find out how you can offset the carbon emissions of your diesel, gasoline or LPG car.
Still, this is a very interesting record, especially if we take into account that they were achieved in testing and that we are dealing with a two-tonne car.
The improvement (albeit small) in acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, in consumption and in emissions justifies, in itself, this update that the Munich brand made to the 840d xDrive Gran Coupé, which remains one of the Gran Turismo four most competent doors on the market.
It is true that the platform on which it is based is exactly the same as that found in the “brothers” Series 8 Coupé and Cabrio, but the five-seat configuration (actually there are four, the middle place is more for "emergencies" than another thing), the four doors and the more than five meters in length are enough for these models to differentiate themselves.
And the dynamics?
Don't expect rear-end drifts from this 8-series or for it to “level up” when we drive it more aggressively. But the truth is that it doesn't take many kilometers to realize that this is much more than a simple car for long journeys.It all starts right on the chassis, which is fantastic. Then, the version we tested had some additional “features” that further optimize the dynamic behavior and the sporty streak.
We are talking about the M Sports Differential, M Technology Sports Pack with 20” wheels with wider rear tires, M sports brakes (more powerful and more resistant) and of course, the M Professional adaptive suspension, which works in conjunction with Integral Active Steering ( four directional wheels).
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All of this combined makes this 840d xDrive Gran Coupé very competent in the dynamics chapter and has a much sportier drive than, for example, the BMW 7 Series, which is just 38mm longer.
Despite the vast dimensions, the body movements are always very well controlled, the steering never disappoints and the suspension always does an impressive job dealing with the most diverse scenarios.
6 cylinder diesel makes perfect sense…
All these attributes are accompanied by the six-cylinder diesel engine, which ends up surprising more for its torque than its power. The availability of the set in the lower regimes is remarkable and this translates into very positive recoveries and very sharp accelerations.
The behavior of the transmission is also not unrelated to this outcome: the box manages to be very versatile and adapts very well to the type of driving we adopt. It can either be comfortable or assume a sportier “posture”.
But despite that, and since we're talking about a GT, this 3.0L inline six manages to offer this “firepower” while remaining silent and virtually vibration-free, which only helps to enhance comfort. and driving experience aboard this “bimmer”.
Interior build quality is at a very high level.
Comfort and many kilometers...
Although the 840d xDrive Gran Coupé does a very good job of itself when we encounter a chain of curves and face it more aggressively, it's on the “open road” that it comes to life and reveals what it was made for: adding kilometers after kilometers.
The motorway is, of course, the scene of choice for this four-door 8-series, even more so in this Diesel configuration. Taking a 350km “take” — without any stops in between — doesn't even make this 840d xDrive Gran Coupé “sweat”. Neither him nor us, who arrived at the destination relatively “fresh” and without complaining.
And we haven't even mentioned the fuel tank, which has a capacity of 66 liters. If we take into account the average with which we finished this test, we realize that this 840d xDrive Gran Coupé has a range of more than 800 km.
Is it the right car for you?
In terms of power, only the 840i ranks below the 840d xDrive, but if the 320 hp were enough for "orders", the 340 hp of this update — as well as the increase in torque — proves to be even more capable.
In the dynamic chapter, and especially with the options of the version we tested, this 840d xDrive Gran Coupé does a very good job of itself. But the Gran Coupé name is not wrong: this Series 8 was made to devour kilometers.
It is true that it does not offer the level of comfort of the Series 7, which is much more focused on luxury and sophistication, but it is an excellent alternative for those looking for more emotion and more dynamism.
In this Diesel version, it impresses by the availability of torque in the lowest regimes, by the total autonomy and by the consumptions, to which it adds interesting athletic abilities.
It may not sound as exciting as the "brothers" with gasoline blocks, but it has more than enough "genetic" and tempo to satisfy those looking for a proposal capable of providing more sporty moments at the weekend and a focus on the comfort of rolling during the week.