BMW has updated its entire fleet of 8 Series variants - and the new and improved M8 Competition sits at the very pinnacle of them all.
The 8 Series is, of course, the flagship of BMW’s ‘Series’ line-up, and a rival to the likes of the Audi A8 or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Available in a choice of two-door Coupe and Convertible variants, or a four-door Gran Coupe model, the 8 Series has been heavily tweaked for 2022, coming with a completely redesigned front end. You now also get the ‘M sports’ package as standard.
There’s a choice of two petrol engines - the 840i or the M850i - with power outputs that run from a healthy 333hp to 530hp, the latter coupled to a 0-62mph sprint time of just 3.9 seconds.
But besides the common or garden 8 Series, BMW has also introduced a brand new M8 - and it’s this performance model that’s guaranteed to make the headlines.
The upgrades here focus on sharpening the dynamics to produce an ‘even greater driving experience compared to the previous M8’, according to BMW, and include upgrades to the control and operation technology as well as a raft of design enhancements.
Power comes courtesy of a 4.4-litre V8 engine with its 625hp channelled to the road via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with ‘Drivelogic’ and BMW’s ‘M xDrive’ all-wheel-drive system.
That provides enough grunt to catapult you from 0-62mph in just 3.2 seconds - which is more than a match for the 571 PS Audi S8, which gets up to the same speed in 3.8 seconds.
Keeping you rubber side down is a new and improved handling system. A BMW spokesperson adds:
“The chassis technology on the new BMW M8 Competition models allies electronically controlled dampers and electromechanical M Servotronic steering to an integrated braking system offering two pedal-feel settings, allowing the driver to choose between a more comfort-oriented or a direct, sporty response.
The DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system offers the option of engaging M Dynamic Mode, which allows increased wheel slip, while the M xDrive system provides a rear-biased set-up.”
Like the standard 8 Series, the M8 is available as a Coupe, Convertible or Gran Coupe.
There’s a host of new colours available for the first time, from ‘Isle of Man Green’ to ‘Tanzanite Blue’.
Meanwhile something BMW calls the ‘M lights Shadow Line’ pack is also up for grabs for the first time. The firm explains:
“The dark finish for the inlays and chrome detailing inside the headlight units help to give the front end an eye-catching and sporty feel, an effect enhanced by the standard High-gloss Black finish for the BMW kidney grille surround.”
The sumptuous cabin also now boasts a larger 12.3-inch Central Information touchscreen display for greater ease of use.
Prices for the regular 8 Series start at £72,225 while the M8 begins at £123,300. But put that into a monthly lease price and things start to look a bit more pleasing!
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