Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 BMW 8 Series Coupe vs. 2018 Lexus LC

The 2019 BMW 8 Series revives a nameplate that hasn’t been seen in this market in 20 years. But the idea of a flagship coupe isn’t new. Other automakers have launched big, luxurious two-door grand tourers of their own before and since—including Lexus, which has the seductive-looking and surprisingly fun-to-drive LC 500. How does the BMW’s styling stack up against Lexus’ radical design language? Take a look below and decide for yourself.

From the front, the 8 Series is the more conservative of the two, featuring narrow LED-accented headlights and kidney grilles, and wide lower intake openings. The LC gets Lexus’ spindle grille, and this might be the best interpretation of the polarizing design feature yet. The Lexus also gets triangular headlights with clusters of three LED projectors, along with the brand’s signature check mark daytime running lights.

Both cars look sleek from the profile view. The 8 Series features a long rear quarter window that tapers into the subtlest of Hofmeister kinks. Character lines begin from the large “air breather” vents behind the front wheels and spread across the doors. The coupe’s clearly defined rear shoulders are also visible from the side. Meanwhile, the Lexus employs a floating roofline, minimal character lines, and prominent side skirts that feed into slender vents just behind the doors.

The 8 Series has a wide, planted stance when viewed from behind. Narrow LED taillights spread across the car’s shapely trunk lid, while the rear bumper sports wheel vents and integrated parallelogram-shaped tailpipes with chrome surrounds. The LC’s rear end is just as unconventional as its front, but in its own way is attractive and sporty-looking. The taillights feature a vertical element that juts sharply downward, and the rear bumper shape echoes the front with a protruding spindle design.

Just as the two coupes’ exterior designs are vastly different, so too are their interiors. The 8 Series’ cabin is an updated take on BMW’s familiar interior design language, featuring an LCD instrument cluster, glass-accented electronic shifter, and wide 10.25-inch central touchscreen with gesture controls. The LC’s cockpit is highlighted by distinctive front seats, uniquely contoured door panels with free-floating door handles and generous swathes of Alcantara, and a tiered dashboard that connects with the center console via a piece that serves as both partition and passenger grab handle.

The two cars have similar missions, yet they couldn’t be more different when it comes to design. Which flagship coupe do you think looks the best? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook!

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