Review of the BMW M8 2021: Competition Gran Coupe

The right lane on Australian freeways is sometimes referred to as the "fast lane", which is funny because the highest speed limit in the entire country is 130 km/h (81 mph). And that's just on a few stretches at the top end. Other than that, 110 km/h (68 mph) is all you get.

Of course, the "dollar thirty" is not going anywhere, but the subject of our review is a four-door rocket with a capacity of 460 kW (625 hp), slightly exceeds our legal limit. 

The fact is that the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe was born and raised in Germany, where the left lane of the autobahn is serious territory with open high-speed sections, and the car itself is the only thing holding you back. In this case, at least 305 km/h (190 mph)!

Which begs the question: wouldn't driving this car down an Australian highway be like smashing a walnut with a twin-turbo V8 sledgehammer?

Well, yes, but by that logic, a whole bunch of high-end, heavy-duty cars would instantly become redundant for the requirements here. However, they continue to sell in large quantities.  

So there must be something more. Time to explore.

BMW 8 Series 2021: M8 Competition Gran Coupe
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	4.4 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	10.4l / 100km
Landing	4 Places
Price from	$300,800

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The BMW M349,900 Competition Gran Coupe costs $8 pre-travel and is an interesting part of the high-performance luxury car market, with a unifying theme being the supercharged V8 engine under the hood. 

It's almost exactly the same price as Bentley's twin-turbo Continental GT V8 ($346,268), but it's a more traditional two-door coupe. 

If you want four doors, some compelling options, within the M8's critical price point, include the supercharged Jaguar XJR 8 V575 ($309,380), the V8 twin-turbo Maserati Quattroporte GTS GranSport ($299,990) and the Presidential Powerful and an imposing twin-turbo V8 Mercedes-AMG S 63 L ($392,835).

But perhaps the competitor that fits best in terms of intent, performance, and personality is Porsche's Panamera GTS ($366,700). As you may have guessed, the twin-turbo V8, also designed to drive on the left lane of the autobahn. 

Thus, in this sublime company, you need to show your quality and A-game capabilities, and the M8 Competition Gran Coupe will not disappoint you. 

Browsing through all of the car's standard equipment would be a tedious task, if only because of the sheer amount of features, and hopefully the following highlights pack will give you an idea of ​​the level we're talking about here.

In addition to an abundance of active and passive safety technologies (described in the Safety section), this brutal Beamer is equipped with four-zone climate control, adjustable ambient (interior) lighting, keyless entry and start, Merino leather trim covering the seats, doors. , instrument panel, M steering wheel and gearbox, anthracite Alcantara headlining, 20-inch alloy wheels, active cruise control, digital instrument cluster, head-up display and laser headlights.

The seats are upholstered in Merino leather.

Power-adjustable sports front seats are ventilated and heated, while the leather-trimmed steering wheel, front center armrest and even the front door armrests can also be adjusted to a comfortable temperature.

You can also add a 10.25-inch multimedia display with navigation (with real-time traffic updates), Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, and gesture control and voice recognition. Heated exterior mirrors, folding and auto-dimming. The Bang & Olufsen surround sound system boasts 16 speakers and digital radio.   

Inside is a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia.

There's also a digital instrument cluster display, a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, soft-close doors, power sunblinds at the rear and rear side windows, and more. Even in this price range, this standard equipment is impressive.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

Want to start a lively discussion with motorists (rather verbal skirmish)? Just ask if a four-door can be a coupe.

Traditionally the answer is no, but over time, many car brands have applied this description to vehicles with more than two doors, including SUVs!

So here we are. The four-door Gran Coupe and the M8 Competition version retain the gently tapering turret and frameless side glass that help give select BMW four-door models the same swoopy coupe look.

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe is a convincing combination of strong and confident character lines.

With a length of around 4.9m, a width of just over 1.9m and a height of less than 1.4m, the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has a firm seating position, a low seating position and a wide track. Always a subjective opinion, but I for one think it looks amazing, especially in the matte finish of our "Frozen Brilliant White" test car.

In an era of ridiculously large BMW grilles, things are relatively under control here, with bright black trim applied to that "kidney grille" as well as huge front bumper air intakes, a front splitter, front fender vents, exterior mirrors, window surrounds, 20 -inch wheels, trunk spoiler, rear valance (with functional diffuser) and four tailpipes. The roof is also black, but that's because it's made from carbon fiber.

A stunning M8, especially in the matte finish of our Frozen Brilliant White test car.

All in all, the M8 Competition Gran Coupe is a compelling combination of crisp, confident lines along the bonnet and lower sides, with gentle curves that follow the high hipline, and more organically irregular but distinct BMW shapes in the headlights and taillights. . 

The interior is a beautifully balanced design with a wide center console that extends to the middle of the dashboard and is rounded to focus on the driver, in typical BMW fashion.

The interior is a beautifully balanced design.

 The multi-adjustment sports front seats are immaculate, with high-quality center stitching that matches the similar door treatment. Dark gray (full) leather upholstery is offset by carbon and brushed metal trim elements, creating a feeling of coolness, calmness and focus.

Open the hood and the eye-catching "BMW M Power" carbon fiber cover adorning the top of the engine is guaranteed to impress friends and family.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

Of the M8 Competition Gran Coupe's 4867mm overall length, 2827 of these sit between the front and rear axles, which is a pretty hefty wheelbase for a car of this size (and 200mm more than an 8 Series two-door coupe).

Space up front is generous, and one advantage of being a four-door rather than a two-door coupe is that you don't struggle as much for space to get in and out when parked next to other cars.

Once inside, there's plenty of storage up front, with a large lid/armrest box between the front seats, two cupholders on the center console, plus another covered area for wireless phone charging and extra little things before that. The long door pockets have room for bottles, and the glove box is a decent size. There is a power supply of 12 V, as well as USB connectors for connecting multimedia with support for outlets for charging.

There is enough space in the front in the M8.

At first glance, you could swear the rear seat was only designed as a two-seater, but when it comes to pushing (literally), the center passenger can squeeze in with their feet on the rear console.

In terms of legroom, at 183 cm (6'0") I could sit behind the driver's seat set for my position with plenty of knee room, but headroom is a different matter as my head is snug to the upholstered headlining in Alcantara. This is the price you pay for this car's racing profile.

There is plenty of leg and knee room in the back seat, but not enough headroom.

The fold-down center armrest features a neatly finished storage box and two cupholders, as well as door pockets with plenty of space for small bottles. The rear console houses dual climate control, two USB outlets and a small storage tray, as well as buttons for the extra heating of the rear seat fitted to our test car ($900).

The 440-liter trunk is a bit like the car itself - long and wide, but not very high. The rear seat folds 40/20/40 if you need more space, and the trunk lid opens automatically with a hands-free function. But don't bother looking for replacement parts of any description, the only option is a tire repair kit.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The M8 Competition is powered by an 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 light alloy engine with direct fuel injection, as well as the latest version of BMW Valvetronic system with variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft. produce 460 kW (625 hp) at 6000 rpm and 750 Nm at 1800-5800 rpm.

Designated "S63", the twin-scroll engine's twin turbines are located along with the transverse exhaust manifold in the engine's "hot V" (90 degrees). 

The idea is to sequentially transfer the energy of the exhaust gases to the turbines to improve response, and in contrast to the usual practice, the intake manifolds are located on the outer edges of the engine.

The 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivers 460 kW/750 Nm.

Drive is transmitted to all four wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission (torque converter) with Drivelogic and special oil cooling, as well as BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system.

The xDrive system is built around a central transfer case that houses an electronically controlled variable multi-plate clutch, with front-to-rear drive distribution set to a default ratio of 40:60.

The system monitors multiple inputs, including wheel speed (and slip), acceleration and steering angle, and can change the gear ratio up to 100% thanks to an "active M differential". 

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 10.4 l/100 km, while the M8 Competition emits 239 g/km of CO2.

Despite the standard auto stop/start feature, over the weekly combination of city, suburban and freeway driving we recorded (indicated on the dash) an average of 15.6L/100km.

Pretty greedy, but not outrageous considering the performance potential of this car and the fact that (solely for research purposes) we have been running it regularly.

The recommended fuel is 98 octane premium unleaded gasoline and you will need 68 liters to fill the tank. This equates to a range of 654 km according to the factory claim and 436 km using our real number as a guideline.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 10/10

The BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe hasn't been rated by the ANCAP or Euro NCAP, but that doesn't mean it lacks active and passive safety technology.

In addition to the expected collision avoidance features such as stability control and traction control, this M8 is equipped with the "Driving Assistant Professional" package, which includes active cruise control (with "Stop & Go" function) and "Night Vision" (with pedestrian detection). ).

Also included are AEB (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), "Steering and Lane Assist", "Lane Keeping Assist" (with active side impact protection), "Evasion Assist", "Intersection Warning", "Lane Warning". the wrong way." ' as well as front and rear cross traffic alert.

The headlights are "laser light" units including "BMW Selective Beam" (with active high beam control), there's a tire pressure indicator, and "dynamic brake lights" to alert those in the back of emergency braking.

In addition, M8 Competition owners can enroll in BMW Driving Experience Advance 1 and 2 free of charge.

To assist you when parking, there is a high-definition reversing camera (with panoramic view monitor), Rear Parking Distance Control and Reverse Assist. But if all else fails, the car can still park (parallel and perpendicular).

If all this is not enough to avoid impact, you will be protected by 10 airbags (dual front and front side, kneebags for the driver and front passenger, as well as side airbags for the second row and curtain airbags). covers both lines).

The automatic emergency call function contacts the BMW call center to connect to the appropriate services in the event of an accident. And, as has been the case with BMWs since time immemorial, there is a first aid kit and a warning triangle on board. 

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

BMW offers a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which is at least a couple of years behind the pace of the mainstream market and behind other premium players like Mercedes-Benz and Genesis, which have a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty.

Roadside assistance is included during the warranty period, and the standard "Concierge Service" provides everything from flight information to global weather updates and restaurant recommendations from a real person.

Maintenance is "condition dependent" where the car tells you when it's time to go to the workshop, but you can use every 12 months/15,000 km as a guideline.

BMW Australia offers "Service Inclusive" packages that require customers to pay for service in advance, allowing them to cover costs through finance or leasing packages and reduce the need to worry about paying for maintenance later.

BMW says different packages are available, ranging from three to 10 years or 40,000 to 200,000 km.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

There's something Teutonically symmetrical about the way the M8 Competition Gran Coupe delivers incredible traction.

Peak torque of at least 750 Nm is available as early as 1800 rpm, remaining at full speed on a wide plateau up to 5800 rpm. After just 200 revolutions (6000 rpm), the peak power of 460 kW (625 hp!) finishes the job, and the rev ceiling is just over 7000 rpm.

That's enough to get this 1885-pound brute from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, which is the speed of a supercar. And the engine and exhaust noise produced by the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 during such rapid acceleration is brutal enough, thanks to the electronically controlled flaps opening. 

Exhaust noise can be controlled using the "M Sound Control" button.

For more civilized driving, you can reduce exhaust noise with the "M Sound Control" button on the center console.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is quick and positive, especially in manual mode, which is a joy to use with paddle shifters. And when it came time to channel this car's forward momentum into lateral movement, BMW brought in the heavy engineering artillery.

Despite its frameless door-to-door bodywork, the M8 Competition Gran Coupe feels solid as a rock, thanks in large part to its "Carbon Core" construction, which uses four main components - carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), aluminum and high-strength steel. , and magnesium.

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe features a Carbon Core construction.

Then the adaptive M Professional suspension (with active anti-roll bar), the cunning xDrive continuously variable all-wheel drive system and the active M Sport differential combine to keep everything under control.

Suspension is a double-link front and five-link rear suspension with all key components constructed from light alloy to minimize unsprung weight. Combined with electronic magic on board, this helps keep the M8 afloat with only modest body roll in an enthusiastic corner, as the rear-shift all-wheel drive system seamlessly distributes torque to axles and wheels that can make the best use of it.

The price you pay for a track-ready tune is reduced ride comfort. Even in Comfort mode, the M8 Competition is stable and has an amazing sense of bumps and imperfections.

Aligning the BMW 8 Series planets left me with the keys to this car and the M850i ​​Gran Coupe (also using Carbon Core bodywork) at the same time, and the difference between their softest settings is palpable.

Also keep in mind that the M12.2 Gran Coupe has an 8m turning radius, and it's also a good thing that all the available cameras, sensors, and auto-parking technology will help you steer this ship into port.

The M8 variable ratio electric power steering has a special "M" calibration for satisfactory precision and good road feel. But, as with the ride, there is a noticeable amount of unwanted feedback on the steering wheel.

Thick Pirelli P Zero rubber (275/35 fr / 285/35 rr) holds the clutch tight, and monstrous brakes (ventilated all around, with 395mm rotors and six-piston calipers up front) wash away speed without fuss or fading.

The M8 wears 20-inch alloy wheels.

But in general, you have to live with a less than perfect engine when you sign up for the M8 Competition. You immediately feel that it is faster, but it lacks the lightness of the M850i. Regardless of which drive or suspension mode you choose, the responses will be more aggressive and physical.

To fully explore and enjoy the possibilities of the M8 Competition, it seems that the race track is the most suitable habitat. On the open road, the M850i ​​is everything you need from a Gran Coupe.

Verdict

Striking looks, luxurious performance and impeccable quality - the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe remains eminently well-handled, delivering amazing performance and stunning dynamics. But there is an "advantage" of experience that you need to be prepared for. If I were determined to race down the Australian "fast lane" in a BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, I would choose the M850i ​​and pocket $71k (enough for a cheeky M235i Gran Coupe to add to my collection).