Two years after a prototype was revealed to the public, the M8 Coupe and Convertible is finally here with their more powerful Competition variants. The last time we heard something about the M8 was during its final round of testing in Estoril circuit in Portugal.
The pictures here showcase only the Competition variants. Compared with the standard 8 Series, the M8’s grille is finished in Black Chrome, gills in Black Chrome, mirror caps in high gloss black, and 20-inch forged bicolor light-alloy wheels. The optional M Carbon exterior package includes air intake surrounds, mirror caps, and gills.
M8 Convertible Competition
At the rear, the apron inlays are finished in high gloss black and so is the rear spoiler. The M Sport exhaust system get black tailpipes. The M Carbon package covers gurney and inlays of the rear apron.
In the Coupe, the roof is made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). As for the Convertible, the multi-layer soft-top opens and closes in 15 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h – same as the 8 Series Convertible.
The M8 models are fitted as standard with Adaptive LED headlights while the buyers can go for Laserlight technology with Selective Beam that offers a high-beam range of about 600 metres and can be identified by blue accents inside the headlights.
Both models are fitted with M compound brakes as standard, which comprises of 395 mm front discs with six-piston fixed calipers, and 380 mm rear disc with single-piston floating calipers. Buyers can go for the optional M carbon-ceramic brakes – with 400 mm discs at the front axle and 380 mm discs at the rear.
BMW Live Cockpit Professional – including navigation system and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant are standard
Interiors too have been spiced up with M leather steering wheel with red M buttons, new shift lever, M-specific graphics on the instrument cluster and infotainment screen, M Sport seats with multi-way electric adjustment with memory function, M seat belts, carbon fibre trim strips, and leather/Alcantara bicolor appointments. Also part of the standard features are Head-Up Display with M-specific readouts, Driving Assistant, Parking Assistant, and ambient lighting.
Options include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Night Vision System, Driving Assistant Professional package (that adds a number of features, such as the steering and lane control assistant, lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection, Evasion Assistant, junction warning, wrong-way driving warning, and front crossing traffic warning systems), Climate seats, sun protection glass, Heat Comfort package, and Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system.
The standard Parking Assistant also includes a rearview camera, while upgrading to the optional Parking Assistant Plus enables the Top View, Panorama View, and 3D Top View function as well.
M8 Competition Coupe
Moving on to the business end of the story, the 4.4-litre (4395 cc) TwinPower Turbo V8 puts out 441 kW (600 hp) at 6000 rpm and 750 Nm of torque at 1800 – 5600 rpm in the M8 Coupe and Convertible. The Competition variants get 25 hp more. The 8-speed M Steptronic transmission sends power to the all four wheels via M xDrive AWD system. However, the driver can choose between 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD (pure rear-wheel drive) modes when the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) is deactivated.
If you care about the 0 – 100 km/h figures, the M8 Coupe does it in 3.3 seconds while the M8 Competition Coupe takes just 3.2 seconds. As for the convertible models, the M8 Convertible takes 3.4 seconds while the M8 Competition Convertible does it in 3.3 seconds. Top speed for all four models is limited to 250 km/h, which can be upgraded to 305 km/h with the optional M Driver’s Package.
There is a new M Mode button on the centre console which can be used to alter both the responses of the driver assistance systems and the information shown in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display. It allows the driver to activate Road (default) and Sport settings; the Competition variants get Track settings as well. In Sport mode, the active driver assistance systems now only show alerts on speed limits and overtaking restrictions, for example. An extended press of the M Mode button engages Track mode which deactivates all the comfort and safety functions of the driver assistance systems.
Other systems include Active M Differential on the rear axle, Automatic Differential Brake (ADB-X), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC). As for the suspension, the M8 models come as standard with M-specific Adaptive suspension including electronically controlled dampers.
The Competition models’ bespoke modifications include increased camber at the front axle, which is intended to enhance their ability to absorb lateral forces through highspeed corners. Fitting the toe links with ball joints instead of rubber mounts has led to even more precise wheel guidance at the rear axle, BMW said.
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