BMW M has unveiled its new mack daddy. Welcome to the BMW M8 coupe and convertible, and M8 Competition coupe and convertible. Needless to say, they join the 8 Series range as the flagship models.
As suspected, power comes from the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that’s seen in the latest M5. It produces 441kW at 6000rpm, and 750Nm between 1800-5600rpm. This is sent through an adaptive all-wheel drive system with a rear-drive mode, after going through an eight-speed sports automatic transmission.
Across the tarmac, the regular M8 coupe can cover 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.3 seconds, or 3.4 seconds in the convertible. Fuel economy on the combined cycle is rated between 10.5-10.6L/100km in the coupe, and 10.6-10.8L/100km for the convertible.
If that’s not impressive enough for you, you need the M8 Competition (pictured – no images provided for standard M8). It comes with a tweaked version of the same powertrain, developing 460kW at 6000rpm, and 750Nm between 1800-5800rpm. The coupe covers 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds, and 3.3 seconds for the convertible.
Being proper M products, the M8 comes with a range of special high-performance components. There’s an adaptive M suspension setup with variable damper control as standard, as well as M compound brakes with six-piston front and single-piston rear brakes, with an active M differential and M xDrive all-wheel drive system.
For the exterior you’ll find a typically discreet aero kit with front and rear spoilers, M gills on the front guards, and large intakes in the front end with M double-bar kidney grilles. There’s also the trademark quad-outlet exhaust setup at the back surrounded by a diffuser element. The regular M8 rides on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275/40 front and 285/40 rear tyres. The M8 Competition uses 20-inch alloys with 275/35 front and 285/35 rear tyres.
Inside, passengers are treated to bespoke sports seats with almost infinite adjustment, while the driver faces BMW’s latest digital instrument cluster display with head-up display on the windscreen. Nestled on the dash is a 10.25-inch multimedia screen with touch functionality, all part of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional package.
The BMW M8 is set to go on sale in Europe soon, with an Australian arrival likely take place late this year or early in 2020. Both models will make their world premiere at the BMW Group #NextGen event, taking place at BMW Welt in Munich from June 25-27.
