Review: BMW’s Gran Coupe​, the elegance of two-door coupe with the space of an executive saloon

Driving an expensive test car brings its own unique responsibilities. No, I’m not talking about avoiding scrapes and door dings — rather that you have to be prepared to spend the week fielding questions from random strangers about everything from the price to what’s powering it.

Even my postman, who is well accustomed to the variety of cars that grace my driveway, had an opinion on this one. But then some cars are just gorgeous. Our test car this week is a sleek BMW Gran Coupe, with a price tag of €163,000.

The number eight has always been special to BMW. Think of the Z8 and i8. The 8 Series was unveiled in 1990 and, after an absence of almost 20 years, was relaunched in 2018. It’s available in three body styles: coupe, convertible and gran coupe.

Beguiling from any angle, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe features a low-slung silhouette with a roofline that flows neatly into the rear, and it embodies the classic coupe body shape. The redesigned front section now features the prominent BMW kidney grille that premieres for the very first time on the 8 Series.

Slip behind the wheel and the cabin is as well-crafted as a bespoke suit. Everything oozes modern luxury. An M leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and shift paddles for manual gear selection of the eight-speed steptronic sport transmission now comes as standard. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional consists of a 12.3in digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, while a control display is now increased in size from 10.25in to 12.3in. Both are simple to use and have none of the needless complications that often frustrate attempts to perform even the simplest of tasks.

There’s plenty of space and even rear passengers fare quite well. The boot is a decent 440 litres.

Under the bonnet of our 840i is a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder inline engine that zips from zero to 100kmh in 5.4 seconds with 333hp and 500Nm of torque. The other number that really matters is fuel consumption; at around 8.6 litres per 100km you’ll get lots of opportunities to answer random questions at the pumps.

But the 840i Gran Coupe is a car to truly enjoy driving, it is fast, agile, and comfortable. At more than five metres long, it also ticks the box of cars that are too long for standard parking spaces, but, reassuringly, the choice of standard and optional systems for automated driving and parking is also extensive. Parking assistant comes as standard, which includes a rear-view camera, Active Park Distance Control (PDC) and Reverse Assistant.

With a starting price of €140,078 the Gran Coupe is an alternative to the likes of the Porsche Panamera (€141,331), Audi A7 Sportback (€89,875) and the Mercedes CLS (€88,835).

One of BMW’s most desirable cars, the 840i Gran Coupe is a rare indulgence, but for those with very deep pockets it’s a mesmerising blend of style, performance and comfort and is certainly one to consider for the lottery dream garage.

Just be prepared for the attention and, of course, all those questions.

Star rating: 4/5

Under the bonnet

BMW 840i M Sport Gran Coupe

Starting price: €140,078 (as tested €163,640)

Engine: 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol

Transmission: Eight-speed steptronic

Co2/Motor Tax: 196g/km/€210

Economy: 8.6l/100km combined

Top speed: 250kmh

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