BMW 8 Series Convertible 2019: prices, specification and release date

This is the new BMW 8 Series Convertible, the drop-top version of the recently revealed BMW 8 Series coupe. Readying itself to take on the Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet, the 8 Series Convertible is set for a full launch in March this year, with sales starting a few months later.

Prices start at £83,270 for the 840d xDrive, while the M850i starts at £107,045. Both cost around £7,000 more than their coupe counterparts.

Broadly speaking, the 8 Series Convertible shares much with the coupe, both mechanically and in the styling department. The car will be available with a choice of petrol or diesel power from launch – with a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine in the M850i or a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six diesel in the 840d. Both come with BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and adaptive suspension as standard.

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Performance is hampered slightly by the extra weight of the Convertible’s folding roof mechanism; the 840i manages 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, while the M850i performs the same sprint in 3.9 seconds. Fuel economy sits at 44.8mpg for the diesel and 28.5mpg for the petrol model, with CO2 emissions of 155 and 225g/km respectively, assuming you choose the smaller wheels.

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The BMW 8 Series Convertible gets a fabric roof that can be raised or lowered in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph; there’s a wind deflector that deploys over the rear seats, which themselves remain about the same size as those in the coupe, albeit with slightly worse shoulder room but a tad more headroom with the roof up.

A payoff for that folding roof is a reduction in boot space. The coupe’s 430 litres shrink to 350 in the Convertible with its roof up, or 280 with it stowed just above the boot. The rear seats still fold flat with a 50:50 split, however.

The same range of options as found on the coupe will be offered on the Convertible, with many arranged into packages. Highlights include the Driving Assistant Professional pack, which brings the highest level of active safety and assistance equipment, including active cruise control with a stop and go function, and the M Sport pack available on the 840d, which brings more performance-orientated styling and parts, including bigger brakes.

If you want the performance and looks shown here but with the reassurance of a solid roof over your head, take a look at our BMW 8 Series coupe review.