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A common misconception is that the 8 Series has been a successor for the original BMW 6 Series in 1989; instead it was an entirely new value proposition aimed at a different market with a substantially higher price point. A new 8 Series cost around US$100,000. Worldwide production ceased May 12, 1999, with 30,621 built. HistoryDesign of the 8 Series began in 1984, with construction starting in 1986. The 8 Series debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in early September 1989. The 8 Series was designed to move beyond the market of the original 6 Series. The 8 and 6 Series cars had very different character: while the 6 Series was a solid Grand Touring car, the 8 Series was aimed towards the supercar market. It was BMW's flagship car while in production. Over 1.5 billion Deutschmark were spent on total development (2005 USD $2.2 billion). BMW used CAD tools, still unusual at the time, to design an all-new body. Combined with wind tunnel testing, the resulting car had a drag coefficient of 0.29, a major improvement from the previous BMW M6/635CSi's 0.39. While CAD modeling allowed the car's unibody to be 8 lb lighter than that of its predecessor, the car was significantly heavier when completed due to the large engine and added luxury items—a source of criticism from those who wanted BMW to concentrate on the driving experience. Sales of the E31 were affected by the global recession of the early 1990's, the Persian Gulf War, and energy price spikes. BMW pulled the 8 Series out of the North American market in 1997, selling only a combined model total of 7,232 cars over seven years.
TransmissionThe 840 (V8) models were equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The 850 (V12) models carry either a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual.
Fuel Economy840 (V8) Fuel Type: Premium MPG (city) 15 MPG (highway) 20 MPG (combined) 17 850 (V12) Fuel Type: Premium MPG (city) 14 MPG (highway) 20 MPG (combined) 16 Source: US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) www.fueleconomy.gov
Models and Production HistorySource: BMW AG
External LinksBMW 8 Series Official Specs
Reference Links
External LinksBMW 8 Series Official Specs
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