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BMW reveals new M8 at last

While it has raced over a year already, BMW has finally tugged the covers off the new 460kW 750Nm M8 streetcar. Powered BMW’s familiar biturbo M-Power 4.4-litre V8 and good for 100km/h in 3.2 seconds in Competition Coupé incarnation and a tenth less in drop-top guise, M8 is set to debut at Frankfurt in September and said to build on the strengths of the M850i with its powertrain shared with M5 and a chassis honed through a 2-year Nürburgring development programme. 

The Competition Coupé is also good for 305km/h, like the M5 thanks to induction tweak and rigid engine mounts. Peak power is at 6000rpm, with maximum torque delivered between 1800 and 5800rpm. The regular M8 uses a detuned 440kW version of the V8 with the same torque output, but over 200rpm less for 3.3 seconds to 100km/h for the Coupé and that tenth slower for the Convertible, while its 250km/h top end can optionally be upped to 300.

A major trump card for M8 is its all-wheel drivetrain through the regular M8-speed transmission with M-differential at the rear and the choice between standard 4WD, 4WD Sport and a pure hooligan rear-wheel-drive 2WD setting with DSC off. M8 gets double wishbone front and five-link rear adaptive M suspension with variable damper control and M-specific electric-assisted variable-ratio power steering.

36mm shorter, 8mm wider and 12mm lower than the outgoing M6, M8 gets stepped 20-inch M-Sport wheels with 275/35 front and 285/35 rear rubber, the typical M aggro bumper, badging in the grille and side air vents, M-Sport mirror housings, a boot deck Gurney tab and a diffuser rear bumper punctuated by quad tailpipes. The cabin gains traditional M titbits from the M-Sport steering wheel, gear knob and stainless steel pedal caps to M-Sport seats, M-Sport digital dials and infotainment.