BMW Unleashes First Ever M8, 4 Variants With Up To 625 hp

After countless teasers and leaked images, the folks at Munich have finally taken the wraps off the first-ever M8.

All set to make its global debut at BMW’s #NextGen event in Munich later this month, the M8 comes in four variants – M8 Coupe, M8 Convertible, and the more powerful M8 Competition as well as M8 Competition Convertible.

Powering the M8 and M8 Competition is a more powerful version of the 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 engine found under the hood of the regular 8 Series, which is paired to an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, a rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system, as well as an Active M Differential.

While the engine produces 600 hp and 750 Nm in the M8, the M8 Competition variants get even more power – 625 hp and 750 Nm to be exact.

Despite producing the same amount of maximum torque, the M8 Competition models sustain the 750 Nm from 1,800 rpm to 5,800 rpm, which is 200 rpm more compared to the regular M8 torque curve which drops at 5,600 rpm.

The Competition variants also get stiffer engine mounting, standard M Sport exhaust system (optional for base M8), as well as a more performance oriented chassis tuning.   

Thanks to the powertrain package, the M8 and M8 Convertible are able to do the century sprint in 3.3 and 3.4 seconds respectively. The M8 Competition and M8 Competition Convertible on the other hand, are able to do the same in 3.2 and 3.3 seconds respectively.

Drivers can choose between three modes - 4WD, 4WD Sport, and also 2WD, a pure rear-wheel drive mode which comes into play when the Driving Stability (DSC) is deactivated.

The DSC system also hooks up with the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and the Active M Differential, and offers the M Dynamic mode.

This mode allows a greater degree of wheel slip and combines with the M xDrive system’s rear-biased setup to deliver an exceptionally sporty drive complete with controlled drifts through corners.

All M8 variants get M-specific adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, an electro-mechanical M Servotronic steering, as well as 20-inch M-light-alloy wheels with a twin-spoke design.

M compound brakes are standard, but there are also M carbon ceramic brakes offered as an option. Also available for the first time is the Integrated Braking system with configurable brake pedal feel, on top of being able to choose between Comfort and Sport brake modes.

On the exterior, key features of the M8 include the double-bubble carbon fiber-reinforced plastic roof, Black Chrome kidney grilles, as well as 20-inch wheels with twin-spoke design for the base M8 and star-spoke design for the Competition models.

Inside, the M8 comes with newly developed sports leather seats with perforated 3D quilting, Merino leather upholstery in two colour options, red accents on the steering wheel and the the centre console, a newly designed gear lever with integrated “waterfall” lighting, and a generous dose of carbon fiber trim.

Other standard equipment include M-specific displays in the instrument cluster, a new control system which allows drivers to customise engine, brake, steering, suspension, and xDrive settings, the latest version of BMW Live Cockpit Pro instrument panel, as well as the new M Mode button to alter the available drive assistance systems.

With the M Mode button, the driver can select between Road and Sport modes with their own style of display. The Competition models on the other hand, get an additional Track mode.    

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