M’s new ultimate 2020 BMW M8 Competition Coupé F92 becomes (joint) most powerful BMW ever
This is the M8 Competition F92, the new flagship of BMW’s current range and, with 616bhp, a car vying for the title of most powerful BMW ever to be put on sale, along with its identically engined M5 Competition F90 relation.
The familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 also produces 553lb ft of torque, which enables the M8 to reach 62mph from rest in just 3.2sec, in spite of a so-far undisclosed kerb weight that’s certain to be close to two tons in spite of the carbonfibre roof panel. The BMW M8 Coupe F92 goes on to crack 124mph in 10.6sec (the M8 Convertible F91 reaches the same increments in 3.3 and 11.1sec) before nudging the speed limiter at 155mph, or as much as 189mph if the optional M Driver’s Package has been specified.
BMW describes the M8 as the Arm’s ‘first foray into luxury motoring’, which gives a strong hint as to the real character of the car, distinct from the other marketing talk of racetrack abilities and exhaust sound. Like the M5 F90 (and the M850i G15), the M8 is four-wheel drive, although it can be made rear-drive only via the iDrive controller, although doing so also disables the DSC safety net. A halfway-house 4WD Sport mode places more emphasis on rear-drive thrills while maintaining the stability systems. The usual multitude of driver modes is present, and there are even two separate calibrations of brake pedal response available.
The F92/F91 2020 BMW M8 Competition’s chassis has been tuned at a certain German racetrack surrounded by a forest, as well as at BMW’s own test facilities, and runs more camber on the front axle than lesser 8-series models, along with stiffer engine mounts. Braking is via 395mm front and 380mm rear cast- iron discs, with six-pot calipers on the front axle, while 400/380mm carbon-ceramics are an option. The familiar quad exhaust set-up features 100mm tailpipes and, in Sport Plus we’re told, produces a suitably aggressive sound.
Expect the Coupe M8 F92 to cost from £123,435 when it goes on sale in the UK later this year, with the M8 Convertible F91 from a fairly eye-watering £130,435.
Above: interior maintains an emphasis on luxury. Above: carbon roof and quad tailpipes are M8 cues.
