BMW Previews 8 Series Coupe

BMW AG has released photos of a concept version of its upcoming 8 Series coupe.

The concept car will be displayed this weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Lake Como, Italy. BMW produced the original 8 Series coupe from 1989 to 1999.

The 2+2 car will share a platform with the current 5 and 7 Series cars, and compete against the Mercedes S-Class. The production version of the 8 Series coupe will go on sale next year in Europe and the U.S., followed by a convertible variant a year later. An M8 performance version also is said to be in the works.

The 8 Series concept is sleeker and sportier than the outgoing 6 Series coupe, which it replaces, but it is more subdued than the original 8 Series. Design cues include an angled version of the BMW's signature kidney grilles, wing-shaped headlights and a muscular hood.

The carmaker describes the concept as a luxurious sports car with “unadulterated dynamics.” Earlier this month CEO Harald Krueger said the 8 Series is the start of a plan to update BMW’s entire lineup with a focus on luxury/performance.

BMW hasn’t released technical specifications for the 8 Series concept. Media reports suggest the production version will be powered by the 6.6-liter V-12 engine that debuted this year in top-end versions of the 7 Series.