BMW M8 Competition: The Most Powerful M-Car Ever Produced
BMW’s first luxury-focused M-Car is a lot of money. However, is it worth the price point in a stiff and competitive niche market?
The BMW M8 is a car a lot of people have been waiting for. It hearkens back to the BMW of old, when performance and luxury were their only concern. Price came secondary. It seems that this aspect has not changed for BMW since we last saw the 8-series 20 or so years ago. This M8 Competition Coupe starts at a lowly $146,000 dollars, while the standard version only asks a simple $133,000. Back in 1995, a V12-equipped 850Csi would have run you right around $100,000. Adjusted for inflation, that’s approximately $168,000 dollars today.
Does that mean that today’s model is a bargain for the price? We aren’t sure we would go quite that far. However, one thing is certainly clear. The M8 Competition is here to impress. It is here to let everyone know what BMW can do when the price point isn’t a concern. Does that fit the bill for a lot of buyers? Probably not. Will they be selling out of these at the dealership? Not even a chance. However, you can be certain when you hear or see one of these, regardless of context or location, you will be jealous. Thanks to Carfection on YouTube, we get to see just exactly what we will be jealous about.
As you might have imagined, this particular M8 is far from a non-options car. In actuality, it has the $20,000 “Ultimate Pack”, which according to host Henry Catchpole means “select all.” What comes with this package exactly? Well, a host of carbon fiber body parts, futuristic laser headlights, and carbon-ceramic brakes. Surprisingly, it seems like the package lets you get your money’s worth.
According to Catchpole, this is the first M-car BMW has produced with the luxury-first intentions. Seemingly every other M-car before it was performance first, luxury second. This 8-series flagship flips that coin. However, Catchpole is critical of what BMW seems to define as luxury. He thinks that there is still too much similarity between this and a 3-series to appreciate it as a true luxury car.
Though not sold on its luxury standpoint, the M8 Competition’s driving dynamics, especially in RWD mode, are supposedly fantastic. Agile and light on its feet like you’d expect from a much smaller and lighter vehicle. Simultaneously the car also remains soft and easier to drive than expected at the limit. Is it a driver’s car to the teeth? Not at all. Can it get the job done? Every single time.
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