2023 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Performance

BMW has managed to create a car that feels brutally fast yet equally relaxed on the highway, which leaves you with a massively capable grand tourer that is equally at home in the city. The 840i models come standard with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers decent urge and good fuel economy. The base model will sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with the xDrive model completing the same sprint in 4.6 seconds. If it's genuine performance you're after, there's only one choice: the M850i xDrive. This brutal road spear will fly to 60 mph in 3.7 and reach a top speed of 155 mph (limited, of course), courtesy of a turbocharged V8. The M850i xDrive is deceptively quick and delivers an arousing V8 burble from the exhaust.

The base model and 840i xDrive are powered by a 3.0-liter BMW inline 6-cylinder engine that features a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control for a smooth-revving experience. This engine produces 335 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque which it sends to the rear wheels. In the xDrive variant, all four wheels are motivated. An eight-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes does duty in all models. BMW sixes are silky smooth, and this unit is no different. There's always enough torque on hand, and the car revs cleanly to its redline that closes in on 7k rpm. The M850i xDrive packs a massive punch from its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine; 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, to be exact. This motor is a torque monster and will push you into your seat regardless of gear or speed. We'd go for the M850i xDrive if you're after some serious grand touring action.

The BMW 8 Series' gas mileage figures aren't going to win any prizes, but it's not quite as bad as you'd think. The 2023 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe will manage 21/29/24 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle, in six-cylinder guise. That figure remains the same for the xDrive version. The V8-powered M850i xDrive is a heavier drinker, and the EPA rates that this German bullet train will consume 17/24/19 mpg.

An 18-gallon fuel tank gives the 8 Series Gran Coupe a maximum range of around 430 miles in 840i configuration and around 340 miles in the M850i.