THE NEW BMW M8 COMPETITION GRAN COUPE

• Distinctive, extravagant, luxurious sports car with prominent high-performance attributes.
• High-revving 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developing up to 625hp.
• Available to order from 9 October, with first customer deliveries early 2020.
• OTR pricing starts from £120,935.

The introduction of the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe signals the next chapter of the brand’s model offensive in the luxury segment. Combining, as it does, the hallmark performance, agility and precision of BMW M GmbH with four full-size seats, the latest M8 model is derived directly from the new BMW M8 Competition Coupe and was developed alongside the BMW M8 GTE endurance racer. Its powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics were adapted to suit this standalone concept; intensive testing took place at the BMW Group’s proving grounds, the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit and other race tracks.

The new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe will receive its world premieres at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019. The worldwide market launch will get underway in April 2020, with the BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition also forming part of the launch offering.

High-revving V8 engine with up to 625hp, eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, M xDrive and Active M Differential.

The renowned power delivery of BMW M engines is one key features of the V8 fitted in the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe. The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine offers instant response to the slightest press of the accelerator, a vast appetite for revs and uninterrupted power development over a wide rev band.

The high-revving eight-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology develops maximum 625hp and is teamed with a sports exhaust system and eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. It serves up peak torque of 750Nm and completes the sprint from zero to 62mph in 3.2 seconds. The V8’s rigid connection to the vehicle structure results in remarkably direct transmission of engine power to the drivetrain. This also sharpens the car’s responses and allows for more engine noise to be transmitted to the cabin.

*Provisional figures

Cooling and oil supply systems developed for the race track.
The BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe is equipped with a highly efficient cooling system where the central cooling module is supported by two remote high-temperature coolers at either side. The low-temperature circuit incorporates the indirect charge air coolers, while the high-temperature circuit supplies coolant to both the engine blocks and the turbochargers. The system also comprises an additional engine oil cooler and a dedicated transmission oil cooler.

The oil supply system has also been geared towards the specific demands of track use. The oil sump includes a smaller front sump that intervenes when extra capacity is required. This ensures a reliable supply of oil at all times, even when the car is subject to extreme rates of lateral and longitudinal acceleration.

M xDrive all-wheel drive and Active M Differential: optimised traction for outstanding performance.
The M xDrive all-wheel-drive system channels the engine’s power onto the road via the Active M Differential at the rear axle. The M xDrive system has a rear-biased configuration in its default 4WD mode. Drivers can then use the Setup menu to select 4WD Sport mode, which sends an even higher proportion of drive to the rear wheels. Deactivating DSC brings 2WD mode into play, with drive fed exclusively through the rear wheels.

Model-specific chassis technology, integrated braking system.
The design and responses of the model-specific chassis technology have been prompted by the particular demands of track use, as have the extremely stiff mountings connecting the suspension to the body. Standard specification includes electronically controlled dampers and electromechanical M Servotronic steering. In its M-specific configuration, the new integrated braking system enables two different brake pedal settings. COMFORT and SPORT modes alter the amount of pressure on the brake pedal required to slow the car. This allows the driver to choose between more comfort- oriented or particularly direct, instantaneous response when braking.

M Dynamic mode for an exceptionally sporty drive.The DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system is interlinked with both the M xDrive all- wheel drive and the Active M Differential, meaning that it only needs to intervene with the brakes and engine output to stabilise the car in extreme situations. The M Dynamic mode, which can be engaged at the push of a button, allows a greater degree of wheel slip and combines with the M xDrive system’s rear-biased setup to deliver an exceptionally sporty drive complete with controlled drifts through corners. DSC Off mode can also be selected at the push of a button.

Distinctive design, extra rear space.
Among the ingredients in the extravagant appearance of the four-door high- performance sports cars are their dynamically stretched silhouette, muscular shoulders and standalone rear-end design. Large air intakes, M gills on the side panels, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors, a rear spoiler and other M-specific features provide a visual showcase for the high-performance character of the new models.

Measuring 5,098 millimetres from nose to tail, the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe is 231 millimetres longer than its two-door siblings. Its distinct proportions are further emphasised by a width of 1,943 millimetres and height of 1,420 millimetres. Track widths are 1,626 millimetres at the front and 1,660 millimetres at the rear. The entire 200-millimetre increase in wheelbase length (to 3,027 millimetres) has been used to improve spaciousness in the rear compartment, where passengers can savour sports-car performance in two full-size individual seats. There is also a third seat suitable for use on short journeys. The boot has a capacity of 440 litres.

The BMW M8 Gran Coupe First Edition will be available in the UK, however limited to just five units; its exclusive design cues include a BMW Individual Aurora Diamond Green metallic paint finish for the exterior, with accents in Gold Bronze.

New control and operating system, exclusive standard equipment.
A Setup button on the centre console gives the driver direct access to the settings for the engine, dampers, steering, M xDrive and braking system. Two individually composed variants of the M Setup can be stored and called up using the M buttons on the steering wheel. The M Mode button on the centre console allows the driver assistance systems and the instrument cluster / Head-Up Display screens to be configured as required. Drivers of the new BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe Competition can also select TRACK mode in addition to ROAD and SPORT.

The exclusive standard equipment of the new M8 Competition Gran Coupe includes Adaptive LED Headlights with high beam assistant, an M-specific BMW Head-Up Display, M sports seats, four-zone air conditioning, front and rear heated seats, Driving Assistant and the Parking Assistant Plus. BMW Live Cockpit Professional, complete with navigation system and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, is also offered as standard.

State-of-the-art driver assistance systems offer customised comfort and safety.
The standard Driving Assistant can be supplemented with a wide choice of other driver assistance systems designed to ease the driver’s workload in monotonous driving situations, so enhancing both comfort and safety. Customers can also opt for the Driving Assistant Professional that adds features such as the steering and lane control assistant, the lane-keeping assistant with active side collision protection, the Evasion Assistant, junction warning, wrong-way driving warning and front-crossing traffic warning systems.

The standard Parking Assistant Plus also includes a rear-view camera, Top View, Panorama View and 3D Top View functions. BMW Drive Recorder, is also included; this function uses the driver assistance systems’ cameras to record video footage from different points around the vehicle. This footage is then stored so they can be either watched later on the Control Display when the car is stationary or exported via the USB port.

The BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe is on sale from today ahead of its official market launch early 2020.