The Misunderstood E31 BMW 8 Series Nearly Looked Very Different

The Bangle era was once the most controversial period of BMW design, but even the most contentious models from that time have arguably been eclipsed by today’s XM SUV, 7 Series sedan, and iX crossover. An exception from the current lineup is the 8 Series, which is still somewhat elegant. But Bimmers have always flirted with quirkiness, and the original E31 BMW 8 Series is proof thereof, as evidenced by design sketches posted on Instagram by Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design.

The designer tells the story of the beginning of E31 8 Series development back in 1984, explaining how five designers competed to give their view of a new luxury sports coupe. Interestingly, a similar competitive process is used in almost every new model that BMW produces today (perhaps someday we’ll see how much worse/better contemporary Bimmers could have been).

The 8er Could Have Been Much Less Curvaceous

Ultimately, it was Klaus Kapitza’s design that would form the basis of the production E31. It took another two years to refine the car to prototype form, and in September 1989, it was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It finally entered production in February 1990. As explored by Hagerty’s Jason Cammisa in a recent video documentary on YouTube, the E31 was a beautiful tragedy of expense and overengineering, leaving a bigger mark on BMW’s balance sheet than on the hearts of luxury buyers of the time.

Would they have preferred the other designs? Possibly – some of the designs appear to have drawn influence from wedgy Gandini and Giugiaro designs of the time, particularly period Maseratis. Nevertheless, what BMW went with has turned out to be timelessly futuristic, and the E31 is now admired for its beauty as much as for its mechanical excellence. Interestingly, BMW has just introduced a final edition of the G14 8 Series in Japan, so what does the future hold for the model line?

BMW Design Reshuffles And Concepts Hint At A New Future

BMW has moved its design executives around, with former Mini people going to BMW, former luxury BMW designers going to Rolls-Royce, and plenty of in between. Not long ago, the automaker also showed the second of two Neue Klasse concepts that will guide its styling direction for new models. On top of that, it has revealed the Skytop Concept as a design study of what the 8 Series may become in the future, and the current model needs discounts to attract buyers, so don’t be surprised if BMW soon introduces a final edition for America and starts work on a third-generation model.

With Alpina coming under the BMW banner from 2026, the future of the 8 Series has many potential outcomes, but one of those could involve the retirement of the nameplate, allowing the 6 Series to return. Whatever it’s called, we hope BMW’s luxury coupe of tomorrow remains one of the prettiest cars in the marque’s lineup.