Currently reading: BMW: the 8 Series is a proper sports car

We've spoken to Sarah Lessmann, 8 Series global product manager, to have our burning questions answered

The new BMW 8 Series has arrived, so to get the lowdown on what to expect from the new range-topping model, we speak to its global product manager, Sarah Lessmann.

What was the key goal in developing the 8 Series?

“The most important information is this: we have a sports car set-up. When we announced the 8 Series, everyone thought it would be a ‘son of’ the BMW 7 Series, like the BMW 4 Series is based on the BMW 3 Series, but that wasn’t the way BMW had the idea of doing a sports car.”

Was it important to make the car close to the 8 Series Concept?

“That’s something we’re very proud of. Normally concept vehicles are quite removed, but on this car there are only a few design details we had to change for legal requirements, such as flattening the shark nose grille a bit.”

Why does the interior differ from other BMW models?

“With the 8 Series, BMW gets back to the driver orientation: the driver is the centre, and anything around their ‘workspace’ is set up to make them comfortable behind the wheel.”

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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manicm 17 June 2018

'Burning questions'? This

'Burning questions'? This interview was a bad joke.
Michael Joseph 16 June 2018

basically a new 6 series

don't see the point to call it "8" apart from increase price....basically everything from dimension to engine are carry over from previous generation "6"

Peter Cavellini 16 June 2018

Video walk round....

 Have a look yourself, it’s on Auto express web page on you tube...!

abkq 16 June 2018

The global product manager

The global product manager certainly had little to say about this new 8 series. It must have been hard to defend what is a generic uninspired design.