This thing is ridiculously rapid.
The 8 Series is one of BMW's best efforts of late, and in M configuration, it's even better. You get a choice of coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe body styles, each of which is available in Competition guise. So equipped, the M8 produces a staggering 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, allowing the M8 coupe to get from 0-60 mph in a claimed three seconds flat, although some independent tests have shown even lower times. But how does the big coupe do in the corners? French magazine MotorSport decided to find out on a seriously tight and technical track - the Magny Cours.
The M8's weight is its biggest issue and you can see the driver wrestling with the car in some instances, but despite this, the car manages to lap the track in just 1:22.18. This makes it faster than the smaller, lighter, and nimbler BMW M4 CS - one of the best sports cars around. Interestingly, the time is also quicker than that of an Aston Martin Vantage. The 2020 Jaguar F-Type R just beats it, despite being a lighter machine, but the most interesting time could be that of the Porsche 911 Carrera, which is a phenomenal machine on track yet is less than two-tenths of a second quicker than the M8.
So the M8 is more than just a big GT car with a bomb of an engine and can handle with the best of them. Perhaps this is a good sign that BMW's decision to fit an all-wheel-drive system to modern M cars is a good one, despite the increased weight associated with such a system. However, if you're interested in one, now is the time to make the decision. Sales of big luxury coupes are falling, and the M8 coupe is being affected. This could mean that it and its convertible sibling may get the chop going into 2022. What a shame that could turn out to be.
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