Bucket Seat: BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of BMW's Gran Coupe range, ever since it was first introduced in the 6 Series back in 2012 I fell in love with the concept. For one, the new shape 6 Series was just under a year old and to see something like an elongated version of a coupe with two additional doors was unheard of. Well Mercedes did have the CLS but that was a drastic change from the CLK at the time so while the two sort of did sit in a similar segment, the concept behind them was vastly different. The 6 Series was a luxury GT coupe, that embodied the best luxury BMW had to offer and couple it with the sporty finesse we know they're so good at, so when the Gran Coupe came along, it just ticket all the right boxes for and hence I made a concerted effort to get behind the wheel of one. I did get my chance in 2016 and while it might have not been the range topping M6, the 640d certainly had the hairs on the back of my neck up throughout the time. 

When I heard BMW were canning the 6 Coupe and turning it into their GT range, I was sad. Sad because it was such a beautiful car, even Chris Bangle's edition had a certain level of charm about it that still has you turning your head when you see it on the road today. Sadness quickly turned to joy after realising the reason for the change was due to the 8 Series badge being revived, concept sketches hit the internet, and it looked fantastic, a new dawn with a new 8 was on the cards. At the Geneva Motorshow last year, BMW through a curve ball and unlike before where most of the secrets were always leaked, the M8 Gran Coupe Concept showed itself. The motoring world was blown away by it, it was monstrous, beautiful and elegant all at the same time. 

Today, the fruit of that concept is born in the 8 Series Gran Coupe and like music to my ears, it's coming to South Africa in 3 engine variants for now, the 840i, 840d and the M850i, with I'm sure M8 versions due early next year. While the production car does chop away most of the dramatic styling from the concept, the car itself is still a stunner. The designers did well to keep that big rear end of the 8 Coupe and blend it in so well to the elongated body of the Gran Coupe to accommodate the additional doors. The side profile still is sleek and lowered to have that grounded effect of the car. Some stats on the engine performances, the 840i will be a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine producing 250kW and 500Nm of toque, the 840d, being a 3L six-cylinder that churns out 235kW and 680Nm of torque and the M850i xDrive having a 4.4L V8 petrol which throws out 390kW and 750Nm of torque. All engines come with an eight-speed steptronic transmission. My pick of the bunch? The diesel, it gives you the best of both world's, sportiness and good fuel economy, not to mention that great torque factor. Would I chose it over the M8 though? That is the question....

Bucket Seat: BMW Supertech Pinetown

The Supertech Group in KZN have grown in leaps and bounds over the years, and just recently expanded their network into the Eastern Cape by acquiring one of the BMW dealerships in the province and added it to theirs. A few weeks ago I was invited to the official opening of their brand new, state of the art dealership in Pinetown. After taking over from the previous owner, the brand was located at the bottom end of Old Main Road, the Supertech Group felt that the location wasn't in the ideal location to service the areas they were targeting. Hence a few years ago, they undertook the task to relocate the Pinetown Dealership to Kirk Rd at the bottom end of Field's Hill, with a ground breaking ceremony that included VIP guests with the likes of BMW South Africa's CEO Tim Abbott and other distinguished guests. A few years later and what once was a caravan sales park, is now home to one of the countries state of the art dealerships. 

The VIP opening saw about 350 guests in attendance, of which included valued clients, members of the media as well as municipal officials with Fawzia Peer giving the cities best wishes to the group and thanking them for the continued investment in Durban as well as creating jobs for many locals. CEO of BMW SA Tim Abbott was on hand to help Chairman of the Supertech Group, Shabir Tayob officially open the dealership as well as give a few words about the remarkable work Supertech have been doing over the years in KZN. The iconic dealership in Pinetown is Greenstar rated, so not its friendly on the environment as well. With the incorporation of the Motorrad Motorcyle element, the Pinetown dealership boasts an entire floor dedicated to the BMW Bike side of things, which include the bikes, gear and accessories. 

On display that evening were some models which are yet to be officially launched locally so the guests were extremely lucky to see these cars in the metal as well as get inside to up close and personal with them. These models included, the BMW 7 Series LCI, BMW X7 and the BMW 8 Series convertible. The 7 Series LCI and the 8 Series Convertible is currently being launched in Europe and will officially hit our shores later this year, and the mammoth X7 in the third quarter. This was the ideal opportunity for me to get a closer look at these upcoming models from BMW, all of which are in the premium luxury segment of the brand. First up was the M850i Convertible, it's just as striking as it's hard top brother, if not even more attractive without the roof. It's a GT cruiser, powered with a V8 Twin-Turbo, this car looks menacing even while standing still. As much as the brute power thats under the hood on this one, its something I see as a Sunday cruiser, with the roof down, following the beach roads, listening to your favourite music. 

Which trying not to get too distracted by the 8 Series Convertible, it was hard not to see the 7 Series LCI lurking in the back ground. This car is everything a true super saloon needs to be and the facelift adds so much more character to the model. The car that was on display was the 750Li which is the long wheel base version of the 7 Series. So already it's size has so much presence, the re sculptured front with the headlamps similar to that of the X7 as well as the massive kidney grilles give the 7 Series LCI and unmistakable look of class and luxury. The sharp lines flow well from front to the back and the massive rims just add more character to the car. In the interior, it's evident that you're sitting in luxury, from the choice of materials used, to the finesse of the stitching on the seats. The amount of padding all over in the 7 Series is indicative to the luxury component of the car and if that isn't enough, with the long wheel base you have the option of having the limousine style rear seat behind the front passenger. Which folds down the front passenger seat, and deploys a foot rest, reclines the rear passenger seat giving the passenger a chance to stretch out and relax, perhaps have a nap too. 

Moving on to the X7, the biggest BMW ever built, with the biggest kidney grille on a BMW, it surely doesn't need an introduction because it's hard to miss it. It's the first seven seater offering from the German brand, offering a luxury experience like no other. Following design cues from the 7 Series LCI, the X7 is BMW's answer to the luxury SUV market, offering a car limousine experience for the roads less traveled on. Yes the X7 is an off road capable vehicle and not one for just prowling the streets. The finishes on the X7 interior exude class and refinement shown in the 7 Series, the cabin has loads of space even with the 3rd row of seats up. There are already a few confirmed orders of this behemoth for South Africa and I cannot wait to see them on the roads. 

Coming back to the dealership, The showroom floor has almost the entire range of models from 1 to 8 on display as well as some of the X models, the Motorrad showroom has most of the latest models as well as a much sort after BMW HP4 track bike priced at a whopping R1.4 million! It definitely was the star attraction from the bikes on display. Supertech Pinetown also boasts a full service coffee shop with a chef, so even if you want to pop by for a bite while admiring some of the best from BMW's stable, you're more than welcomed too. We at the Bucket would like to wish Shabir and his team at the Supertech all the best for this new dealership and may you continue to prosper in the years to come. 

Bucket Seat: BMW Concept 8 Series

When BMW AG broke the news that the 6 Series production line had stopped, it meant one two things, we were never going to see the super luxury coupe again or something new and better was coming. Thankfully it was the latter, late last night the German manufacturer lifted the covers on its long awaited return of the 8 Series Coupe and, its magnificent! With rivals Mercedes Benz taking the market by storm with their S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, BMW knew they had to do something to persuade their current clientele and new prospective buyers with something equally great or better than what the competition has. 

And suffice to say, they didn't just do that but they hit the ball out of the park with this one. The BMW Concept 8 Series is something to behold. It's bold, its sleek, it's something that personifies what BMW has planned for the brand in the coming years. Whats even more great about it, is that BMW say that this concept, is very close to what we can expect in the production car next year. Yes, this car will be made and much of what you are seeing here will be in it! 

The design is something completely new from them and BMW say it will influence their product range going forward in terms of design and technology. It also signals BMW's interest in making a move to a higher market in terms of their offering. Being the new range topper from the stable. the Concept 8 Series takes a swipe at luxury sports cars such as Porsche and Aston Martin, so it will be very interesting to see what the final product is and how close it is to the concept. 

The Concept 8 Series also has a new user interface which will follow in the brands lower segments. It see's a new interior layout, which is clean, sleek and very much driver focused and super luxurious while still maintaining key elements that made their simplistic but rational design great in the past. The driver has a full digital cockpit with the ability to view almost any information on it, including the navigation map. No word on whether the car will have the XDrive system which is offered on other high end sports models from them but there is no doubt this one will be fast!