2020 BMW M8 Coupe Review: Blistering Bavarian Behemoth

Fans of the brand have been calling for the birth of the range-topping BMW M8 nameplate for years now - since before BMW had even confirmed the revival of the 8 Series. BMW has finally delivered, with 2020's M8 and M8 Competition coupes, with little changed from the internet-breaking concepts and clear GTE-racer inspiration (the GTE was, unusually, launched before the road-going models). Although not quite as much a supercar as the original M8 concept of the 1990s, the M8's 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged powerplant is a key ingredient for a hellraising full-size luxury coupe, developing 600 horsepower in the regular M8, and 617 hp in Competition trim. Both versions produce 553 lb-ft of torque, although the Competition carries the spread over an additional 160 rpm. Advancements on regular 8 Series models include a host of performance-oriented upgrades and M-specific features, as well as more muscular bodywork and sportier styling accents. A large, tech-laden grand tourer with a similarly large price tag, the M8 wages war with the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe and Bentley Continental GT.

What’s the price of the 2020 BMW M8 Coupe?

The regular 2020 BMW M8 Coupe starts at a base price of $133,000 before options and other charges. It is also subject to a $1,000 gas guzzler tax and BMW's $995 destination fee. Stepping up to the pièce de résistance, the M8 Competition will cost you at least $146,000. Fully loaded, this trim will escalate to a whopping $178,025, but will then include upgraded brakes, a higher top speed, a better sound system, and all available driver assistance programs.

2020 M8 Coupe Exterior

Dimensions

2020 M8 Coupe Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Usually the retreat of smaller sports cars, hot hatches, and supercars, the bends are where you can really feel the benefit of shelling out more money for an M8 rather than sticking with an M850i - particularly if you go for a Competition. Stiffer engine mounts, increased front camber, more aggressive electronic stability calibration, and self-stiffening ball joints on the rear toe links, as well as lightweight forged aluminum wheels all make the Comp a surprisingly agile beast. The regular M8 also features dynamic damper control to soak up road imperfections and pockmarks, brake drying for increased wet-weather stopping power, brake-fade compensation, and cornering brake control systems alongside a standard active differential that takes more than just available grip into account to get the big-body coupe through turns more efficiently.

This is still a heavy car, though, and when you take it to a closed course and really thrash it, you can feel it. Much like the M6 before it, the M8 is a grand-tourer first and foremost, with continent-crushing power, a cosseting interior, and a comfortable ride, thanks to dynamic dampers. Turn-in is direct, if lacking the intuitive feeling of old hydraulically-assisted setups, and the enormous brakes are magnificent at bringing the heavy car to a halt. However, the electronically-assisted brake booster with its variable modes - a new technology debuted for BMW here - does not inspire confidence and lacks true feel. Sure, the car stops well, but it doesn't feel like you're the one pressing the pedal. Overall, this is a brilliant Autobahn bruiser and a comfortable cruiser, just not an analog racer.

2020 M8 Coupe Interior

2020 M8 Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2020 BMW M8 Series A Good car?

A grand tourer or full-size luxury sports car needs to satisfy a few criteria: firstly, it needs to be lavishly appointed and exceedingly comfortable. Check. Secondly, it needs to be large enough to fit luggage for the driver and his companion. Check. Finally, the consummate GT must also have enough power to shift the tides of war. Check. So, the M8 is the perfect GT then? Not quite. Thanks to a carbon roof, there's no portal to the stars. Also, it lacks some driver aids that you'd really expect to be thrown in for free. Worst of all, the M850i is just as good a cruiser with not too much less power, and a far more palatable price tag. The M8 is for Top Trumps and letting your peers at the country club know that you have the best and most expensive Bimmer. BMW could have made no changes and just stuck a higher price on a rebadged 8 Series, and it would still sell by the truckload. Make no mistake, the M8 is glorious in almost every measurable way and is worthy of a test drive - it's just kind of pointless.

What BMW M8 Coupe Model Should I Buy?

If you're already able to afford an M8, you may as well go balls to the wall and splash out on the Competition. The extra suspension upgrades don't excessively detract from the comfort of the car, thanks to adaptive damping. You also get a better exhaust system, and, most importantly, bragging rights to the most powerful production BMW road car ever made. Fitted with the optional M Carbon package, the M8 Competition ticks all the boxes for a mean road presence while subtly displaying a hint of flamboyance and performance potential. We'd also tick the M Driver's package, not so much for the higher top speed, but more for the included on-the-limit driving lessons.

2020 BMW M8 Coupe Comparisons

2020 BMW M8 Coupe vs Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe

Eternal rivals, the feud between BMW and Mercedes is always on another level when their M and AMG models do battle. Forever comparable, there are some key differences. The S63 is considerably pricier, starting at an MSRP of almost $170,000. The BMW is faster from 0-60 and makes more power in Competition spec, although the Merc decimates its torque figures, producing 664 lb-ft of twist. Looks-wise, things are more subjective, but the Mercedes has always had the more opulent styling in comparison and features Swarovski crystals in the headlights for the S63. In this segment, that sort of thing is important. The interior of the S63 also feels more premium, whereas the M8 reminds one of a slightly larger M4. Overall, it comes down to preference, as the S63 is certainly the more luxurious offering, while the M8 is much more sporty in styling and equipment. For performance, the M8 is a winner, but overall, the AMG is a much better GT.

2020 BMW M8 Coupe vs BMW 8 Series Coupe

Sharing the same basic engine and architecture, it's hard to ignore the more attractively-priced M850i xDrive. As the top version of the 8 Series range, the M850i has also been breathed on by M Division, although not as heavily and without the ability to engage smoky drift mode. The M850i is a brilliant car and offers much of the tech available on the M8, with performance being the only real difference and a relatively small one at that. Despite "just" 523 hp, the M850i manages 0-60 in just a fraction over the M8's 3.1 seconds. It's beautifully designed inside and out, and has an arguably more elegant layout and feel. Yes, the M8 is the cream of the crop, but the M850i is so good that we have to ask why anyone would care. Phenomenal comfort, power, acceleration, and a lower price tag mean that this is the more sensible choice. It's also more restrained in styling, and not everyone wants a brute that shouts about how good it is. The M8's advances are negligible in many respects, and it seems to have been built for only one reason: because people will buy it. M fanatics are a crazy bunch and only care about the fact that they're driving a full-on M car, with most never even creeping a small patch of the tires onto the parking lot of a racetrack. You'll rarely, if ever, get an opportunity to use the full capabilities of the M8, or even the M850i, so unless you're obsessed with one-upmanship, avoid the M8. It just doesn't make sense.