The BMW M8 Gran Coupe and M8 Competition Gran Coupe unveiled

The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe and new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe are poised to swell the ranks of luxury BMW M models.

The new models blend their standout performance with distinctive body design and increased space for rear-seat passengers. They therefore represent an exclusive opportunity for both driver and passengers to sample the signature dynamism, agility, and precision offered by these new range-topping BMW M models.

Both of the four-door high-performance sports cars deliver a dynamically stretched silhouette, muscular shoulders and a standalone rear-end design.

Large air intakes, M gills on the side panels, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors, a rear spoiler and other M-specific features provide a visual showcase for the high-performance character of the new models. 

Featuring a high-revving V8 engine, an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, M xDrive and an Active M Differential, the hallmark power delivery of BMW's M engines is one of the calling cards of either BMW M8 Gran Coupe.

The high-revving eight-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology develops a maximum output of 592bhp and as much as 616bhp in the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe, and teams up with a sports exhaust system and eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic to deliver sheer driving pleasure.

This translates into an acceleration figure of 3.3 seconds from zero to 100km/h for the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, while the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe does the same sprint in 3.2 seconds.

All that hard acceleration is also made possible by BMW's M xDrive all-wheel drive system, which channels the engine's power with poise and authority via a centrally-controlled Active M Differential at the rear axle.

The M xDrive system has a rear-biased configuration in its default four-wheel drive mode. Drivers can then use the Setup menu to select four-wheel drive Sport mode, which sends an even higher proportion of drive to the rear wheels, and deactivating Dynamic Stability Control brings a two-wheel drive mode into play, with drive fed exclusively through the rear wheels.

The chassis design and responses for the M8 Gran Coupes have also been tuned with track use in mind, and features extremely stiff mountings connecting the suspension to the body. Electronically controlled dampers and electromechanical M Servotronic steering comes as standard.

A Setup button on the centre console now gives the driver direct access to the settings for the engine, dampers, steering, M xDrive and braking system, while two individually composed variants of the M Setup can be stored and called up using the M buttons on the steering wheel.

Furthermore, the M Mode button on the centre console allows the driver assistance systems and the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display screens to be configured as required.

The exclusive standard equipment of the new BMW M8 Gran Coupe and new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe includes Adaptive LED head lights with BMW Laserlight, an M-specific BMW Head-Up Display, M sports seats, as well as BMW's Driving and Parking Assistant. The latest advances in connectivity can also be enjoyed with the standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional, complete with navigation system and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe and new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe will celebrate their world premieres at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019. The worldwide market launch will get underway in April 2020.