India is slowly getting into the grove again. But, of course, the aura is all weird, and no one knows what’s going to happen in the new normal. So, in these confusing times, there are going to be some surprises. And BMW India has decided to lead from the front. As the first official product launch in weeks, it has landed the 8 Series in two forms – 840i Gran Coupe (two trims) and the M8 Coupe. Nice timing! With thick uncertainty clouds all over, there won’t be many who would want to spend much on a car. How much? The 840i Gran Coupe costs Rs 1.3 crore, whereas the 840i Gran Coupe M Sport carries a price tag of Rs 1.55 crore. If you want the range-topper, the M8 Coupe will cost you Rs 2.15 crore.

To be honest, no one can falter BMW India. Carmakers plan product launches months or even years in advance. And for a product that comes to the country via the CBU (Completely Built Unit) route, the company was never expecting record-breaking sales anyway. So, without further ado, here’s what the 8 Series brings to the party.

Both 840i Gran Coupe derivatives pack a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 335bhp/500Nm. The M8 Coupe, on the other hand, has a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 with 591bhp/750Nm. Those who opt for the Gran Coupe can manage a 0-100kmph sprint time of 5.2 seconds and top out at 250kmph. Figures for the M8, in the same order, are 3.3 seconds and 250kmph. Get the optional M Driver’s package, and the last number shoots up to 305kmph. An 8-speed automatic handles transmission duties in all 8 Series variants. However, only the M8 Coupe comes with the xDrive all-wheel-drive.

In the features department, least-expensive 8 Series gets stuff like two-zone climate control, adaptive LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a colour head-up display, cruise control, launch control, auto tailgate operation, wireless mobile charging, sports seats and a rear-view camera. The costlier Gran Coupe ropes-in features like four-zone climate control, BMW Display Key, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 16-speaker 464-watt Harman Kardon sound system, 360-degree surround-view cameras and tyre-pressure indicator. As for the M8, it gets almost the same features as the Gran Coupe M Sport.

So, who would buy an 8 Series? Is the Gran Coupe a possible replacement for the 7 Series? No! Both serve different purposes. The 7 Series is all about luxury and comfort, whereas the 8 Gran Coupe has a sportier character. Does that mean the question remains unanswered? Well, not exactly. You can consider the Gran Coupe as a less-expensive alternative to the Porsche Panamera.