The wait is over. BMW’s new, regular production flagship, the Gran Coupe 8-Series, will be available at the tail end of the summer. It looks stunning, and, barring the upcoming M8, it stands as the last major piece in the puzzle of the rebirth of the series.

BMW paced the rollout very well. From concept unveiling at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2017 to the jewel-in-the-crown coupe pictured below, around 25 months elapsed as one long, steady reveal. Back in 2017 BMW advised the industry and its watchers to prepare for the most aggressive campaign in its history. What followed was a strategy of measured, sustained accumulation that had broad impact implications for BMW’s brand exposure, one than can be considered a covert brand burnishing.

The Gran Coupe’s profile exudes grace and leisure, with a lengthy nose giving way to a softly rising windscreen and a very gradual gradient that puts an elegant spin on fastback muscle, and presents a less raked roof than the coupe—for more space within, and comfortable touring for all hands. The rear boasts a spoiler which is very understated, performing its function without undue disruption to the fluid lines. The Gran Coupe’s biggest engine is the 4.4L biturbo V8 that comes with the M850i. 840i models receive an I6. No hybrid yet, but the CLAR platform is designed for it.

The cabin boasts a panoramic roof that is split into front and rear moonroofs, a nice touch for front-to-back egalitarianism. The cockpit is spacious and uncluttered, and enhanced visually and tactilely by stitched leather dash covering. A digital instrument cluster and 10.25” touchscreen with Live Cockpit Professional, the upper tier of their new infotainment system.

Pricing starts at $86K for the Series base model, the 840i Gran Coupe.