2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible revealed

Soft-top car becomes the second model in Munich’s flagship lineup replacing the 6 Series Convertible.

Is this a fighter for the S-Class cabrio?

Ever since BMW revived the 8 Series moniker earlier this year, many people thought that the suits in Munich wanted to square off the challenge with the niche models of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

However, the 8 Series Coupe, for one, isn’t actually the size of the S-Class Coupe. Which is why the 8 Series Convertible, revealed here for the first time time, isn’t a fighter for the S-Class Cabriolet.

Instead, these two Eights are merely acting as indirect replacements for the respective counterparts wearing the 6 Series nameplate.

Is the open-top Eight heavier than its fixed-top sibling?

In the usual fashion of open-top cars, yes. That’s because additional reinforcement is required to make bodies of convertibles stiffer than their coupes stablemates.

The 8 Series Convertible comes with a classic rag-top that can open or close in 15sec at speeds of no more than 50kph. As in other open-toppers, there’s a wind deflector in the Bimmer for enhanced comfort when driving roof-down.

Like in the Coupe, there are two versions for the Convertible initially both with eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive.

They include the M850i featuring 530hp 4.4-litre V8 and 840d hosting 320hp 3.0-litre diesel. 

Because the Convertible, at 2,015kg, is 125kg heavier than the Coupe in M850i form, the 0-100kph time of 3.9sec is 0.2sec slower.

While global sales of the Coupe start at the end of this year, the Convertible is being readied for global launch next March.

It won’t cost as much as the S-Class, right?

That’s right, since the 8 Series going into the shoes of the 6 Series means prices of some 10 million baht and not the 15 million baht level being applied on the eight-cylinder S-class Coupe and Cabriolet in Thailand.

But whether BMW decides to sell the 8 Series Convertible in Thailand is another thing because open-top cars don’t really suit the hot climate. Expect the Coupe variation to be more attractive.