At last, BMW has unveiled the first-ever M8 (well, sort of), ahead of going on sale in Europe in September.
Under the bonnet of the M8 is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 as its four-door M5 sibling, mated to a standard eight-speed Steptronic torque-converter automatic transmission and a rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
In standard guise, the turbo donk produces 441kW of power and 750Nm of torque, enabling a 3.3-second 0-100km/h run for the coupe (or 3.4 for the convertible). Opt for the hi-po Competition, and you’re loooking at uprated outputs of 460kW and 750Nm – an extra tenth is shaved off the 0-100km/h sprint time, to 3.2 and 3.3 seconds for the fixed-top and drop-top respectively.
Top speed for both is electronically limited to 250km/h – however, the optional M Driver’s Package lifts that to 306km/h.
Performance goodies standard on the new M8 include stiffer adaptive dampers, an active rear differential, active sports exhuast, 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275mm front and 285mm rear performance tyres, a range of driving modes and variable electric steering.
It also comes standard with ventilated 395mm front and 380mm rear compound brakes – with six-piston front and single-piston rear calipers – with adaptive functionality that allows drivers to alter brake feel and pedal characteristics. Carbon-ceramic brakes with larger 400mm front discs are available as an option.
Visually, the M8 has been given an upgrade over the ‘regular’ M850i. Up front there’s a more aggressive bumper with a black splitter and black grille trim, while around the rear there are tinted LED taillights, quad exhaust tips and a black Gurney flap. Other styling elements include a carbon-fibre roof and carbon mirror caps – the latter of which is part of the M Carbon Exterior Package.
Inside, it’s largely the same as the M850i, with revisions including M-branded bucket seats, a new M mode for the instrument cluster, M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel along with plenty of carbon-fibre trim and M8 badging.
The BMW M8 will be shown off at this month’s #NextGen event and the Frankfurt motor show in September.
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