PRE FLIGHT BRIEFING BMW M8 COMPETITION

Why is it here?

Because it’s BMW’s job to keep Porsche honest – for less money. It’s been doing it for generations, but the 8-series stretches BMW’s brand equity to its very limit – can you charge the best part of £150k for a car wearing the same badge as all those front-wheel-drive 1-series, the badge of a company that pulled out of all top-level motorsport in the wake of the emissions scandal?

Munich certainly thinks so, and senior BMW engineers were punchy at the car’s unveiling. ‘The two-door 6-series came quite close to challenging the Porsche 911,’ R&D chief Klaus Fröhlich told

CAR. ‘The 8-series coupe closed that gap. The M8 has what it takes to secure the sports-car crown in the 600bhp segment.’

Any clever stu ?

The 8’s structure is closely related to that of the 5-series, albeit reinforced with composite elements to increase torsional rigidity. The engine’s a masterpiece. An uprated version of the already mighty unit in the M850i, the full M engine gets upgraded cooling and lubrication systems (including a second feed to keep the oil flowing through long, high-load corners on track) and a high-pressure fuel-injection system. It’s bolted to the car via more rigid mounts, sharpening the drive and communicating more of the V8’s e orts to the cockpit. Drivetrain is as per the M5 Competition – a rear-biased performance all-wheel-drive system that can be locked to reardrive only. Non-M 8-series models have rear-wheel steer; the M8 doesn’t, to aid predictability.

Which version is this?

The Coupe – you can also get an M8 Convertible and the fourdoor Gran Coupe. In terms of key options, this car has the carbonceramic brakes (a £7995 option) and the M Driver’s Package (£2095), which lifts the speed limiter and gets you a day’s BMW Intensive Driving Training course.