BMW unveils Series 8 concept car

The BMW Concept 8 Series is seen in this provided image. © BMW

Car maker BMW revealed its latest concept car, the Series 8, at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, serving up a taste of what's to come from its high-end Series 8 coupé production model, expected in 2018.

The upcoming BMW Series 8 coupé will succeed the current BMW Series 6, reviving a name previously used for BMW Grand Tourer coupé models in the 1990s. According to BMW, the forthcoming Series 8 coupé will be a perfect blend of razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury, lining itself up for comparison with the Mercedes S-Class coupé.

The concept car unveiled at the Italian Concours d'Elegance showcases a new light design, with slim laser headlights at the front. It also features 21-inch multispoke wheels. On the inside, the driving position has a sporty feel, seating the driver low in carbon-fiber-shell sports seats, as if at the wheel of a race car. High-end materials abound, with carbon fiber, brushed aluminum, Merino leather and Swarovski glass.

A first production model is slated for release in 2018, with a cabriolet likely to follow later. Note that BMW is yet to reveal details of the engine specs.