Officials from BMW have rejected suggestions that the firm is pressing ahead with development of a new range-topping coupé with the 8-series badge.
BMW put the rumour mill into high gear with the unveiling of the Pininfarina-designed Gran Lusso concept at the recent Villa d’Este concours in Italy and the suggestion that it could bring the 8-series name back as a rival to the Bentley Continental GT.
However, R&D chief Herbert Diess told Autocar that it was too early to make a definitive call on whether it will see production. “The Gran Lusso concept was very well received,” he said. “We’re looking into the possibility of production, but a decision is still a way off.”
The contemporary four-seat Gran Lusso concept is based on a modified version of the same rear-drive platform that underpins the current 7-series.
