2022 BMW 8 Series price and features: Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz SL rival's mid-life update adds bigger multimedia screen and more

BMW has updated its flagship 8 Series model line as part of a mid-life facelift, with improvements to multimedia and exterior styling.

The 8 Series continues to be available in three body styles – two-door Coupe and Convertible and four-door Gran Coupe. Grades include the six-cylinder 840i, the V8-powered M850i x Drive and the range-topping M8, although the M8 Convertible is not offered in Australia.

The subtle styling tweaks include redesigned U-shaped bars in the signature kidney grille, and an illumination function of the grille bars. The grille lights up when you unlock the vehicle and can be turned off.

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All 8 Series grades now come standard with the M Sports package which means they all now feature “aerodynamically optimised” body elements finished in the body colour around the side skirts and front and rear apron. The package also includes M Sports brakes with blue callipers.

The 840i is fitted with 19-inch M light alloy wheels, while the M850i and M8 come with 20-inch hoops.

All V8 models now feature the same exterior mirrors as the fire-breathing M8.

New metallic colours added to the palette include Skyscraper Grey, San Remo Green, M Portimao Blue and Frozen Tanzanite Blue.

Inside, BMW has increased the size of its iDrive multimedia screen from 10.25 inches to 12.3 inches across the range.

A new Merino leather upholstery and other M-specific interior flourishes are found in the cabin.

There are no changes under the skin.

That means the 840i continues on with a 250kW/500Nm inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 850i xDrive uses a 4.4-litre V8 pumping out 390kW and 750Nm with the same transmission and driving all four wheels.

Finally, the M8 uses an uprated version of the turbocharged V8 delivering 460kW and 750Nm for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.2 seconds.

Pricing has gone up by $5000 for each variant, so the range now starts at $187,900 before on-road costs for the 840i Coupe and tops out at $362,900 for the M8 Coupe.

The updated version will roll into dealerships in mid-2022.

BMW launched the 8 Series in Australia in May 2019 as a rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe and convertible, while the Gran Coupe was pitched as a Porsche Panamera competitor.

Last year BMW sold 44 examples of the Coupe/Convertible and 42 of the Gran Coupe. These results were down 57.7 and 64.1 per cent compared with its 2020 tally.

2022 BMW 8 Series pricing before on-road costs