It’s no secret that large coupes and convertibles don’t sell as well as they used to, so the news that the BMW 8-Series’ fate is up in the air isn’t all that surprising. However, a new rumor suggests that the series will not only return for another generation, but also that that model will be electric.
Instead of the three body styles currently occupying the 8-Series range (Coupe, Gran Coupe, Convertible), citing unnamed sources with a “good track record”, BMWBlog is reporting that this electric version will be offered exclusively as a Gran Coupe.
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The car, whose tentative internal designation is G77, would theoretically enter production in 2026, and ride on the same flexible CLAR platform that underpins the new 7-Series and i7 (as well as the current 8-Series). There is the chance that it could use BMW‘s Neue Klasse platform, which is slated to roll out in 2025, but BMWBlog believes that by using the CLAR architecture, the German brand would have more flexibility with the powertrain options should there be a last-minute change due to market demand.
Of all the vehicles in BMW’s lineup, we could see the 8-Series having some success as an EV. For one, the car already has a high cost to entry, so even though electric vehicles tend to be pricier than their gas-powered counterparts, the difference might not be that much for the 8-Series.
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Take the Mercedes S-Class and EQS for example. Both cars’ base price are over $100,000, but the electric EQS actually starts around $9,000 cheaper than its ICE stablemate in the United States. Additionally, a large car like the 8-Series wouldn’t suffer as much from the added weight of EV components compared to something smaller such as a 3-Series.
It’s worth noting that as of right now this car’s existence is still just a rumor, but should it come to pass, the electric 8-Series Gran Coupe would compete with vehicles like the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore (though that car has 2 fewer doors), or potentially the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT.
