BMW announces more details of 600hp M8

With the 600PS (592bhp) twin-turbo V8 from the M5, the M8 has 70 more horses than the 8-series model already on sale, the M850i. There are no official performance stats yet but one thing for sure, as a full-fat M car the M8 will have to beat its lesser sibling – itself no slouch with 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds – and match the 3.4secs of the M5. Having a cheaper four-door M car accelerating quicker than the two-door M car flagship would seem odd. Equally no prices yet but think well over £100,000. 

What we know for sure about the M8 is that it has been developed in parallel with the M8 GTE racer that has been competing this year in the World Endurance Championship and North American sports car series. Doing GTE and M8 together, says BMW, has allowed powertrain and chassis technology to be “geared squarely to maximum performance and unfettered track capability”.

The M8 delivers its power via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission to the rear wheels… most of the time. But this is an xDrive BMW and will share out the torque to all four wheels as and when required. With an active M Differential at the rear offering up to 100 per cent lock up, that shouldn’t be too often. For drifters there’s a 2WD and M Dynamic mode plus a knob to turn off the DSC if you really want to let rip; BMW says the M8 then offers “a driving experience of absolute purity”. And lots of rubber smoke…

The brakes are steel with carbon-ceramic brakes optional and the wheels are 19-inch light-alloy as standard, with 20s optional. In either case there’s more rubber at the back than the front, further emphasising the rear-drive nature of the beast.

We know from the M5 the engine sounds good and, despite its more luxury leaning, the M8 gets a flap in the exhaust system to pump up the V8 volume.

Dimensions are as the 8-series but with wider tracks. Along with other predictable M car changes – M specific suspension and extra body rigidity included – BMW says the M8 delivers exceptional directional stability, steering precision and cornering dynamics.

The car, still wearing its camo, is currently being hammered around the Estoril grand prix circuit in Portugal prior to its official unveiling.

It all smacks of an appealing iron fist in a velvet glove, something the old 8-series never managed – but then that was never developed alongside a race car.