BMW 8 Series Concept Looks Stunning As A Convertible

A convertible model is expected to join the BMW 8 Series family after the Coupe launches next year.

BMW enthusiasts have been celebrating the announced revival of the beloved 8 Series luxury grand tourer. A concept model previewing the design of the final production model is being showcased at this week’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Esteset in Italy, paving the way for the final production model in 2018 to become the new flagship BMW. After the Coupe, the 8 Series family will be further expanded with a Convertible, a Gran Coupe and a long-awaited M8 performance model.

Talented rendering artist Jan Peisert recently envisioned the latter with a bold and beautiful design. We expected him to follow it up with an 8 Series convertible render, but X-Tomi Design has already beaten him to it. Using the Concept as a reference, X-Tomi Design has produced a design showing us how the 8 Series could be adapted into a convertible, and it’s safe to say it looks just as stunning as the Coupe. It’s presented in a Valencia Orange finish, but otherwise looks near identical to the 8 Series Concept, sporting the same long hood, muscular wheel arches and 21-inch wheels. BMW has yet to reveal any specifications for the new 8 Series.

However, Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design Adrian van Hooydonk has dropped a few hints. He describes the new 8 Series, which is essentially a coupe version of the 7 Series, as a "full-bodied high-end driving machine," and a "luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other." No doubt a convertible 8 Series will allow BMW to branch out its assault on the luxury car segment and catch up with Mercedes.

Cadillac ATS-V Replacement Looks Mighty Fine In GM Patent Filings

It even has cues from the sexy Escala concept.

Earlier this year, GM announced that the Cadillac ATS sedan would be killed off after the 2018 model year. The ATS coupe will live on for another year, but GM is working on a replacement for both cars that will likely be called the CT5. New patent filings submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office obtained by GM Authority show the design of what appears to be a new coupe from the Cadillac brand. Could this be the replacement for the ATS?

The patent number D821,923 was applied for by GM’s technology subsidiary on February 14th, 2017, and has recently been granted on July 3rd, 2018. It is easy to tell this is a Cadillac coupe, because the design heavily resembles the stunning Escala concept from 2016. Interestingly, the Escala was originally envisioned as a flagship model, but the CT5 will compete against smaller models like the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes C-Class. The original Escala concept was also a sedan, so it will be interesting to see if Cadillac builds a CT5 sedan or a larger model flagship model.

If this patent filing turns out to be for a flagship model, it could compete against the Lexus LC and BMW 8 Series. In any case, we are looking forward to seeing the Escala design language on a production Cadillac model. Cadillac has been building beautiful concepts for several years now, and it's time to turn those concepts into a reality.