2023 BMW M8 Gran Coupe

The base price of the new 2023 BMW M8 Gran Coupe now starts at $134,000, which includes the Competition package but excludes the $995 destination charge. The MSRP of the BMW M8 Gran Coupe compares very well to that of the Mercedes-AMG GT63 four-door's price of around $150,000, now that the GT63 models are again available in the USA for the 2023 model year. But it is a lot more expensive than the manual-shift homegrown super sedan, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, which costs only around $92,000.

There is no doubt that the M8 Gran Coupe is an incredibly effective tool for going fast, doubly impressive considering its weight. The xDrive AWD provides prodigious grip in all conditions, the 617-hp V8 slingshots it out of corners with eye-widening fury, and it tracks the cornering line flatly, resolutely sniffing out the apex of a curve. It's not all as cohesive as it could be, though and although the unforgiving suspension proves great on smooth roads, the ride will elicit a wince every time you hit a rut or ridge. Compared to the Audi RS7, which is more comfortable even in its suspension's firmest setting, the ride is pretty harsh. The other fly in the ointment is the numb steering feel, which isolates the driver from the action somewhat and reminds them that this is no Lotus Elise.

The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe has its moments of brilliance, but as an overall package, it fails to take class honors. One of the natural competitors of the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, the Audi RS7 four-door coupe, is more balanced, less punishing on the kidneys, has a larger trunk, and is nearly as fast. Even domestic rivals such as the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing sedan have what it takes nowadays to offer a shockingly resolved sporting experience with four doors - at a far lower price and with a manual gearbox thrown in. For a hardcore M car with such an uncompromisingly hard ride quality, one would expect the whole package to work together to at least make it worthwhile on the track. Sadly, the odd brake feel and numb steering don't sing off the same song sheet as the suspension and fail to tie together the talents of the M8 Competition Gran Coupe the way a cohesive M product should. And you can't dial back the suspension to a comfortable setting; it's still hard even at its softest. Its rivals do a better job at building rapid, elegant four-doors that are also liveable and practical.

There is only a single trim level, so it comes down to how you spec it. Losing yourself in the options list can see you add well over $30,000 to the base $134,000 MSRP of the M8 Gran Coupe. It's up to you whether those fancy paints and cosmetic exterior carbon options are worth it, but we would be entirely happy with the standard options. Specifying the expensive racing buckets and carbon-ceramic brakes only makes sense if you are going to take your M8 on a track regularly, but we would indulge ourselves with one of the stunning contrasting interior Full Merino trim options like Black/Sakhir Orange Alcantara/cloth for $3,500. What we would also consider worthwhile is the combined Active Driving Assistant and Driving Assistance Professional packages; this will cost you $1,800. We'd also add red brake calipers and have the headliner color-matched to the rest of the interior. Specced like this, it brings the grand total to $140,295, destination fee included.