The BMW M8 makes one hell of a primary impression. A vibrant pink M8 Competition Coupe lurking within the pit lane at Portugal’s Portimao Circuit is equal components elegant and imposing. Under the hood there is a twin-turbocharged V8 with 617 horsepower, permitting for a 3-second 0-to-60-mph acceleration time. It’s a giant automotive with large energy. And Portimao is the proper place to place it by way of its paces.All M8s use the identical engine: BMW’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbo S63 V8. In the usual M8, it produces 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Opt for the costlier Competition mannequin examined right here and also you get the aforementioned 617 hp, however the identical 553 lb-ft. Regardless of output, the M8 makes use of an eight-speed computerized transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. All that brute power runs to the bottom through a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system, which might torque-vector throughout the rear axle for improved cornering grip.
The M8 Competition will set you again $146,000 — a $13,000 improve over the usual M8 Coupe. But you do get extra than simply an extra 17 hp for that not-insignificant upcharge. The Competition pack additionally provides distinctive 20-inch wheels, an M Sport exhaust, different-colored seat belts (for no matter that is value) and a Track profile for the M drive settings. Track mode fully disables all driver-assistance programs and turns off the radio and heart infotainment show. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and head-up show (HUD) go minimalist on this setting, as effectively, solely giving the driving force a very powerful info they want.Now, one small caveat: While a plump gallery of sunny summertime on-location pictures accompanies this assessment, they had been really taken just a few days earlier than my monitor check. When I confirmed up at Portimao on a Saturday morning in September, it had simply rained, with bits of drizzle and mist nonetheless within the air. Not precisely perfect track-day circumstances, however as I quickly found, the moist climate afforded many alternatives for me to expertise the subtle driveline tech discovered within the new M8.By the time you cross the beginning/end line after a reconnaissance lap, the M8 is already carrying an incredible quantity of velocity. And as you head down the hill towards Turn 1, the automotive’s rump squirms a short time you trailbrake into the nook, earlier than rolling again on the throttle by way of Turn 3 (BMW’s monitor configuration bypasses Turn 2). Meaty, 15.7-inch carbon-ceramic entrance discs will let you scrub off a ton of velocity whereas braking late earlier than Turn 4, which sits on the backside of a hill, and the pavement is very moist. Even with the traction management totally enabled, the rear-biased all-wheel drive permits for loads of back-end slip by way of this nook. On later laps, whereas switching to the much less aggressive 4WD Sport setting, you may maintain an extended slide as you make your approach up the hill towards Turn 5. As on the four-door M5, the M8 has a devoted two-wheel-drive mode, however contemplating how a lot freedom the 4WD Sport setting offers you, I would not wish to use it in these moist circumstances.
Uwe Fischer/BMW
A fast phrase about these brakes: While there is not any arguing in opposition to the goodness of the highly effective carbon-ceramic setup, I’m not completely offered on the brake-by-wire tech BMW’s fitted to the M8. It’s not even half as unhealthy because the horribly tuned model of this setup Alfa Romeo makes use of within the Giulia and Stelvio, however there’s nonetheless some weirdness to the sensation you get by way of the pedal. To its credit score, BMW says the brake-by-wire tech saves about 4.5 kilos over a standard setup, and permits drivers to vary between Comfort and Sport settings, various the brake pedal and quantity of suggestions. But in my expertise, the 2 programs kind of really feel like a wash, and weight financial savings apart, this looks like an answer to one thing that is not really an issue. I can not recall any current BMWs having unsatisfactory brakes; why repair what is not damaged?Turn 6 is rather like Turn 4, and the automated transmission eagerly downshifts beneath braking as you method this left-hand hairpin. Small inputs by way of the thick-rimmed, heavy steering wheel will let you properly string collectively Turns 7 and 8, earlier than a fast dab of brakes earlier than going left into Turn 9. I like the burden of the M8’s steering, and the way shortly the entrance tires reply to motion. But just like the 8 Series Gran Coupe, I’m left wanting a bit extra suggestions, particularly on-center.The V8’s midrange punch is ample for accelerating up the hill to Turn 10, and I like how eagerly the automated transmission holds gears all the best way as much as redline as I head towards Turn 11. At Turn 12, the 4WD Sport mode once more permits for a little bit of slide as I coast down the hill towards Turn 13, and the exhaust roars as I roll again onto the throttle earlier than one other late-brake entry into the Turn 14 hairpin. Through Turn 15 and the lengthy sweeper that’s Turn 16, progressive throttle inputs maintain the M8 secure, and it is moist sufficient that I’m grateful for the usual xDrive mode’s four-wheel traction. All the whereas, even within the rain, the M8 feels completely unflappable, prefer it has a lot extra to present. Great because the M8 Competition Coupe is whereas lapping Portimao, I can not communicate to its public-road prowess. Instead, that is the place I bought to expertise one other a part of the M8 portfolio: the Convertible, which can be provided in base and Competition guises, for $142,500 and $155,500, respectively. The final chapter within the M8 story, the Gran Coupe, Gran Coupe, will debut on the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. And very similar to the usual 8 Series Gran Coupe, count on this physique model to account for about 50% of all M8 gross sales. At $130,000 to begin, it will be the most affordable M8 of the bunch.
Aside from, you recognize, the roof, the M8 Convertible isn’t any totally different from the M8 Coupe. It’s about 265 kilos heavier than its hardtop equal, and BMW says this ends in a really small discount in preliminary acceleration time. Still, I’m speaking a few large, four-seat convertible that may scoot to 60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds, so do not for a minute assume that the droptop offers up any actual efficiency to its coupe counterpart.On the hilly Portuguese roads between the Portimao circuit and my resort close to Faro, the M8 is a stunner, even on this chilly, damp day. The Competition spec is likely to be essentially the most hard-core, however in Comfort mode on easy highways, the experience high quality is supple. Change it to Sport or Sport Plus and the distinction is minimal, the M8 as soon as once more by no means sacrificing grace regardless of great cornering poise.With the highest up, the M8 Convertible is completely cozy and quiet. With the highest down, nonetheless, it is surprisingly loud. While different trendy convertibles do an important job of channeling air across the cabin to disrupt the passengers (and their hairdos) as little as attainable, the M8 does not actually excel right here. At 70 mph on the freeway, I’ve to shout simply to have a dialog with a man sitting lower than a foot away from me — and that is with the facet home windows up.Nevertheless, similar to in each different 8 Series mannequin, the M8’s cabin is totally beautiful. From the quilted leather-based on the soft, supportive seats, to the high-quality steel finishes on the dashboard and heart console, it is a cabin that oozes class. In the convertible, BMW affords a neck hotter, just like Mercedes’ Airscarf characteristic, which channels heat air by way of the seat and out a small vent just under the headrest. If you ever plan to drive your M8 with the highest down on a crisp fall day — and you must, that is one of the best type of convertible climate — it is a must-have choice.
BMW
The M8’s cabin tech carries over from the remainder of the 8 Series vary, that means you get BMW’s newest iDrive 7 infotainment system housed on a 10.2-inch central show. You can management iDrive through the knob on the middle console, by talking voice instructions or just touching the display. And whereas the menu construction can typically be a bit laborious to navigate, I’ve to commend iDrive for its fast responses to enter and its unbelievable performance. BMW’s synthetic intelligence tech makes this a strong system — simply say, “Hey, BMW” to entry plenty of connected-car capabilities. And whereas all M8s characteristic Apple CarPlay compatibility, I’ll as soon as once more level out that it does not have Android Auto. (I’ll cease mentioning that when BMW begins together with it.)In typical BMW vogue, there are a selection of driver-assistance programs accessible, however most of them will value you. You solely get ahead collision warning with computerized emergency braking as normal tools. If you need blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, a surround-view digital camera, parking assistant, rear cross-traffic alert or full-speed adaptive cruise management, you will need to pony up for one among BMW’s choice packages. Considering these are $130,000 automobiles we’re speaking about, that is nickel-and-diming at its most interesting.But actually, the M8 itself is an train in upselling. The M8 Competition is an admirable performer, however most patrons will not ever take their automobiles to the monitor, and the 17-hp improve and extra Track mode will not make a distinction to them on the road. That leaves you with the usual M8, which in itself looks as if an important bundle, however I’m undecided it is a sufficiently big step up from the stunning M850i, which makes use of the identical 4.4-liter V8, however with 523 hp as an alternative of 600. Without driving the automobiles again to again, it is laborious to say if the M8 displays a noticeably extra aggressive on-road demeanor — at the least, one value paying an additional $21,100 for. If you may have the money, the M8 is a critically interesting bundle, even when it simply speaks to the inherent greatness the 8 Series has at its core. 
BMW
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