The BMW 8-Series Convertible Is Officially Here With Up To 523bhp

Here it is, the new BMW 8-series in convertible spec. Try your best to look surprised, would you?

Yes, we know we’ve already seen the drop-top 8er thanks to a leak earlier this week, but the car has now been given its official reveal, and that includes some facts and figures.

As anticipated, the line-up mirrors that of the coupe’s. There’s a range-topping M850i, powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 developing a meaty 523bhp and 553lb ft of torque. It’s ever so slightly slower than the coupe thanks to the inevitable weight gain associated with rag-top cars, with the 0-62mph time increasing from 3.7 to 3.9 seconds.

One step down is the 840d, which punts out a handy 316bhp and 502lb ft of twist from a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine. It’ll whisk you from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, which is three tenths slower than the coupe version. At some point, a straight-six petrol engined 840i will be joining both the coupe and roadster ranges.

The fabric roof can be opened or closed in 15 seconds while you’re driving at anything up to 31mph, and you can spec it in either black or ‘Anthracite Silver’. Boot space stands at 350 litres, although that will drop when the roof is stowed.

Along with the folding roof, BMW has also added addition underbody bracing to offset the drop in rigidity, plus a strengthened windscreen and rollover bars - extended by a “pyrotechnic charge” - should the worst happen.

Pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, but we’re expecting a modest increase on the £76,270 and £100,045 base prices of the 840d and M850i coupes. It’ll go on sale this December, with the first cars making it to customers at the tail end of Q1 2019.