BMW has premiered its new 8-Series flagship, the M8. The car will be available in coupe and convertible body styles, as well as line-topping Competition trim.
The BMW M8 uses the M850i chassis that the manufacturer has spent a year polishing at the North Loop of the Nürburgring Circuit in Germany. The engine comes from the M5; in its standard form, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 600 hp (447 kilowatts) along with 750 Nm (553 pound-feet) of torque. The Competition trim comes with a minor boost to 625 hp (466 kW).
Accelerating the coupe from nothing to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 3.3 seconds, with the convertible predictably lagging 0.1 s behind. The Competition version concludes the sprint in 3.2 s. Top going speed is limited at 250 km/h (155 mph), but you may buy and install the M Driver’s Package if you want it to go up to 305 km/h (190 mph).
The BMW M8 also gets an AWD system and an active M differential. There are three selectable drive modes: 4WD (default), 4WD Sport (self-explanatory), and 2WD (rear wheel drive, turns off additional roll stabilization).
Other notable features include adaptive suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes (optional), 20-inch wheels, carbon aero parts (optional), and bucket seats.
Sales in Europe begin this autumn.
Photos: BMW