BMW awakens 8 Series after 20 years of hibernation

If there's one BMW that hit the world by surprise, it's probably the 8 Series which had pop-up headlights. This two-door masterpiece is sleeker than our daddy's well-kept car due to it being unique and classy. It was one of the graces of the 90's and, boy, hearing its return made us very impatient. 

Being a car that wouldn't ring any bell on kids today, the all-new M850i xDrive Coupe has finally landed on earth straight from BMW's ambition of bringing back one of their iconic cars. Gone were the pop-up headlights and in comes sleek curves and flamboyant design. The production version is kind of less daring compared to the concept 8 Series but, hey, it didn't lose the charm – in short, it has been tamed in terms of design.

What sticks out on the second-generation 8 Series though is its low-slung, elongated coupe contour. This is made up of slim window pillars, a distinct roofline with double-bubble styling, long wheelbase, and wide stance. The large air vents, new signature headlights, and hexagonally-outlined kidney grille gave it a sporty-but-classy appeal. Meanwhile, the LED rear light clusters extend far into the rear vents, while the taillights feature distinct L-shape design.

Inside the 8 Series, comfort comes in a new form. The interior also features a driver-focused design, meaning the cabin comes with wide center console which separates the driver from the passenger area. This design allowed a functional cluster that comes with haptic feedback. 

Comfort is taken care by wrapping the cabin with Merino leather, from the side door panels, to the dashboard, center console, and seats. Speaking of, occupants may get to enjoy the newly-developed sport seats for long distance journeys. The rear seats are even foldable (50:50 split design) and it's standard to all variants.

Now, be the judge to what's under the hood. BMW is equipping the 2019 8 Series with a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. That existing eight-cylinder engine you know has been revised to attain more improvements. What's new are two twin-scroll turbochargers, High Precision Injection, Valvetronic fully variable valve control, and Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing. The result is a whopping 523 hp and 750 Nm of torque.

The newly-revised mill is coupled to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission with wider ratios and sportier gear shifts. This new automatic transmission has a weight-reducing design and new controller. And, due to hydraulics control, this transmission shifts gear sharper than it used to.

There's a lot to talk about the sleek all-new 8 Series but the thing that we could all relate to is its active parking assist. It's not a new feature in the automotive world, especially on luxury cars, but this convenient feature on a coupe? Why not? 

The German automaker decided to bless their returning icon with the active Park Distance Control (PDC) with front and rear sensors. This feature makes the car take over acceleration, braking, steering, and even shifting gears all by itself. 

Technology is also supported by the Remote Software Upgrade, which keeps your vehicle up-to-date with the latest software version. Updates may be done wirelessly, just like how it's done on smartphones. Oh, and last thing, your car is connected to the internet either via a domestic Wi-Fi network or through the built-in SIM card.