BMW At The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, World Premiere Of The 8 Series And M8 Models

This year, the most beautiful, exclusive and fastest vehicles of their respective eras were assembled at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, in north-east Florida.

The renowned classic car show provided the perfect setting for BMW to debut its new edition of the 8 Series and M8 models for the first time.

Plus, BMW M GmbH’s 50th anniversary was also celebrated with an exhibition of 50 ground-breaking sports cars from the company’s 50-year history.

BMW Group Region Americas’ head and BMW North America’s president and chief executive officer, Sebastian Mackensen, expressed, “The luxury sports cars of the new BMW 8 Series occupy a prominent position in BMW’s model range. We are delighted to be able to debut these exceptional models at one of the most prestigious automotive events in America.”

To start off, the new BMW 8 Series showcases an exquisitely enhanced design with an array of advanced features to match.

Commandingly, fitted at the centre of the redesigned vehicle front section is the illuminated ‘Iconic Glow’ BMW kidney grille. 

Besides that, the 8-cylinder models also feature aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors in the style of the BMW M8 as standard.

Notably, the M sports package is now standard in all model variants of the BMW 8 Series Coupé, the BMW 8 Series Convertible and the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé.

All models of the 8 Series’ interior have an equally dynamic and exclusive character that is accentuated by an extended range of standard equipment.

Namely, it includes multifunction seats, an M leather steering wheel and other M-specific design features.

Moreover, it also features the standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a control display that has now increased in size to 12.3 inches. 

Next, the BMW M brand also exhibited pioneering models from its past along with the versions of its high-performance sports cars for the luxury segment that are slated to roll-out this spring.

Offered in three guises, first is the BMW M8 Competition Coupé with a combined fuel consumption of 11.4 – 11.0 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 260 – 251 g/km (WLTP). 

Second is the BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet with a combined fuel consumption of 11.6 – 11.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 264 – 255 g/km (WLTP). 

Rounding up the range, the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé with combined fuel consumption of 11.6 – 11.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 264 - 256 g/km (WLTP). 

These top models of the BMW M GmbH range offer fascinatingly vigorous power distribution by harbouring a 460 kW (625 hp) V8 engine that features the M TwinPower Turbo technology.

Significantly, they are now more impressive and also come with an exceptionally extensive range of standard equipment.

For instance, the exterior has new paint finishes, M light-alloy wheels, M Shadow Line lights available for the first time, BMW laser light headlights and flap-controlled M sports exhaust system.

Interior-wise, a new 12.3-inch control display with touch function, an extra interior trim variant, BMW Head-Up Display with M-specific elements and full Merino/Alcantara leather upholstery.

Separately, aside from these two world premieres, the BMW Group subsidiary, founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH, also celebrated its 50-year anniversary. 

As aforementioned, it is a special exhibition that showcases 50 milestones from BMW M GmbH’s 50-year model and racing history.

Outstandingly, this included an early precursor of the current BMW M8, the prototype of a high-performance sports car with a V12 engine.

Remaining as a one-off, it was developed by BMW M GmbH in the early 1990s based on the then BMW 8 Series Coupé, and this was only the second time it has been put on show in the USA.

It also featured a freshly restored 1980 BMW M1, which was the company’s first independently developed model, and the BMW V12 LMR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999.

Last but not least, sporting a combined power consumption of 24.5 - 21.9 kWh/100 km and CO2 emissions of 0 g/km (WLTP), the all-electric BMW iX M60 that is about to be launched in the US.

Overall, the display of BMW M models from five decades also had numerous vehicles owned by members of the BMW Car Club of America and from BMW North America’s classic car collection. 

BMW M GmbH’s chief executive officer, Franciscus van Meel, concluded, “The United States is the world’s largest market for BMW M vehicles and we are always amazed and delighted by the passion and dedication that many enthusiasts here invest in their cars, both old and new. We feel privileged to be able to celebrate our anniversary in this wonderful place, surrounded by special people and exceptional cars.”