BMW produced the first generation of its 8 Series — the E31 — from 1990 to ’99, offering the sleek two-door with either V8 or V12 engine options. After nearly two decades of sitting dormant, the Bavarian brand opted to revive the 8 Series in 2018 with the new G15 body style, before debuting the new twin-turbo S63 V8-powered M8 the following year. And while the Competition-spec of the M8 already represented BMW’s most high-performance — and expensive — non-CS model, the Munich marque has nonetheless opted to go back to the drawing board in order to deliver an even more capable M8 Competition range for the 2023 model year.
Produced in a trio of versions — the M8 Competition Coupé, the M8 Competition Cabriolet, and the four-door M8 Competition Gran Coupé — the latest M car has received a series of minor visual tweaks such as a new front fascia design and a revised, more sculptured grille setup with integrated lighting elements. At the heart of each new M8 Competition model is a 4.4-liter V8 with M TwinPower Turbo technology that’s paired with an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic — a powertrain that generates 625hp and 553ft-lbs of torque. This allows for a 0-60mph time of just 3.2 seconds (or 3.3 seconds for the Cabriolet variant). While its torque output goes unchanged, the latest M8 has received a boost of eight ponies.
BMW also looked to the M8 GTE factory race car when redesigning the new M8’s chassis, allowing for even better rigidity and better handling — the latter of which is further helped along by the use of BMW’s electronically controlled shock absorbers and an electromechanical M Servotronic steering system. The new range also boasts an integrated brake system that allows for the use of two-pedal characteristics. Inside, the already-plush cabin has been treated to a larger 12.3” touchscreen display linked to BMW’s iDrive OS, plus there’s a new leather and Alcantara option on the available M carbon bucket seats. Offered in eight different color options, the latest M8 range also gains the option of new 20” M light alloy “star-spoke design” wheels, as well as being the platform used to premiere BMW’s all-new M luminaires Shadow Line.
BMW has yet to reveal pricing for any of the three new models in the 2023 M8 lineup, though we expect them to carry MSRPs that are on par with the outgoing model year — which started at $130,000.
