BMW didn’t invent the four-door coupe body style, but its 2024 8-series Gran Coupe is one of the best-looking examples we can think of. Its flowing lines and dramatic fastback roofline cut an elegant silhouette whether it’s cruising or parked. A silky-smooth turbocharged six-cylinder engine is standard, but a honking twin-turbo V-8 is available if you want more muscle. Both are quick, dispatching the big sedan to 60 mph in 4.7 and 3.0 seconds, respectively.
The downside of the 8-series’ dramatic exterior styling, though, is a rear seat that’s tight for tall passengers—but that’s true of its rivals as well. Speaking of which, the 8-series runs in a class of excellent sports sedans that includes the Audi S7, the Porsche Panamera, and the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door, all of which offer similar performance and panache.
The 840i features a 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder powertrain that feeds either rear- or all-wheel drive. The M850i boasts a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 and standard all-wheel drive. While the base engine doesn’t pack the wallop that the V-8 does, it’s still plenty quick and produces a pleasant timbre when rushed.
Those looking for more substantial thrust won’t be disappointed by the M850i, which has a detuned version of the engine in the BMW M8 Gran Coupe (reviewed separately) that makes up to 617 ponies. The Alpina B8 model nearly matches the M8 Gran Coupe with a 612-hp version of the twin-turbo V-8; BMW claims it’s capable of a zero-to-60-mph time of just 3.3 seconds.