Next gen meaning after the 2021 release or meaning the car that’s coming out this year(g80)?
Most probably the next generation.
The CLS63S actually got axed to create room for the AMG GT63S, less so the E63S. Though I find it outright bizarre that they felt the need to launch an AMG GT53 and now apparently they’re even launching an AMG GT43 that’s essentially not all that different from the CLS450’s motor.
The M8 GC actually sells and has more demand. The M8 Coupe requires massive incentives and still moves off the lot very slowly (ironic since it moves quite fast when on the road). Why throttle back a car that people actually want to create room for a car people dont?
It does seem that this is BMW’s answer to the Continental GT as that’s too low of a price point / segment for Rolls Royce and RR doesn’t really have or want the sporting image of Bentley or BMW.
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I agree the amg gt63 caused the cls to be pushed out but it’s not for the reason you think. The e63 and cls63 were priced relatively close, and the cls63 was such a low selling unit compared to the e63. They decided to push a more expensive 4 door amg gt for buyers looking to be more “exclusive.” The e63 starts at 107k and the gt63 is like $161k. Also another fair point is that having a e63,cls63 and amg gt63 is just too much, they would have a tough time differentiating in why there’s essentially 3 sport sedans and 2 4 door slantback style coupes.
I think bmw has been reacting too much rather than being proactive. They are very clearly going after the S class coupe with the 8 series. Them adding the gc pretty much kills any momentum they have because the gc is just as stylish and more practical, the back seats on an 8 series coupe are useless compared to what the gc can offer.
I definitely think bmw is trying to go after some of those fringe Bentley buyers or those who may buy a used continental, though clearly with sales it shows that the approach isn’t working.
Sure, I can buy this assessment. Keep in mind the 8 series isn’t generally doing well because it’s priced way above what the 6 series was and really, the 8 series is a replacement for the 6 series, they’re just trying to move the 8 more upmarket based on pricing.
The 8 series doesn’t really stand that far apart from other BMW products, especially not enough to justify the price tag of some of the cars. It’s a corporate car through and through and you see/feel it in the interior.
It looks nice, though. Just not super-car nice.
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the outside styling is not so bad but the interior is like you said corporate, feels like any other bmw out there.
I just don’t understand why they couldn’t just name the current 8 series a 6 series with a new gen, you are 100% right in the pricing gauge too, again the m5 and m6 were closely priced, but now an m5 is like circa 100k base price and the m8 is like 130k with only a few thousand separating a coupe and a gc,
Very headscratching to me what bmw is doing.
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I think we’re effectively saying the same thing but from 2 different angles. The way I see it, they’d rather sell an x63S for AMG GT63S prices rather than CLS63S prices and those two are more on top of each other since they’re both 4-door coupes that compete with an 8GC and/or A7/S7/RS7. Definitely agreed that selling all 3 is too much.
Also I think we’re effectively in agreement here. The 8GC is definitely a more palatable offering than the 8-coupe. It (arguably) looks better, it’s more practical, it’s priced lower and has broader appeal. So no surprise it sells better, has higher demand, fetches higher prices and is ultimately more profitable. So it makes perfect sense to throttle back or even kill the 8-coupe in favor of the 8GC.
Yup agreed. Those who want a Bentley coupe, even a used one, would rather have the Bentley name and offering rather than a somewhat re-engineered 5-Series crafted into an 8-coupe. Same problem for the S-Class coupe. A very narrow market for big-body, even bigger price tag 2-door luxury offerings.
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Yeah, it would make sense. I can’t imagine a gt63 costing too much more to build than a cls, guess that makes it a no brainer to sell it for that much more profit.
Agreed the coupe looks nice but the gc looks better. I see a possible m8 coupe not being for offered period for NA for the following model years after 2021, it makes perfect sense.
Yeah you are right people buying bentley or the S class coupe are more attached to the name brand more than anything else, Similar to gucci, Prada, LV, etc etc
I really like the m8 gc, it’s very aggressive and no doubt turns heads, though I doubt we see any good deals on them anytime soon.
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I like what they did with the X5 45e. Would have liked to seen a bigger pack though with CCS charging.