Top 5 Quirks & Features of the M8 Competition
Doug DeMuro’s M8 Competition review reveals a performance powerhouse ready to take on Porsche.
BMW really outdid themselves with the 8 Series and the M8 Competition. The company created an extremely good looking lineup with proper performance chops. Additionally, the 8 Series also has convertible variants available to customers as well. That’s something of a rarity these days. With the rise of electric vehicles, it’s nice to see BMW commit to what they do best.
Fortunately, thanks to Doug DeMuro, we now have further evidence of the M8 Competition’s greatness. After thoroughly examining a 2020 M8 Competition, DeMuro feels the car offers a lot to people who want a sporty coupe that’s not extremely punishing. He also finds a bunch of nifty features worth discussing.
Of all the quirks & features DeMuro discusses, here are our top five picks!
1. M8 Competition Driving Dynamics
Crucially, DeMuro thoroughly enjoys his time driving the M8 Competition. Aside from the power and seductive exhaust note, he likes the Competition’s balance between performance and refinement. “It’s the luxury antidote for people who are thinking about an AMG GT and they want something a little bit less crazy. A little bit less restrictive and bouncy,” says DeMuro.
Basically, DeMuro finds the Competition to be adequate as a daily driver and something you’d want to take out on the track. He also feels the BMW presents a much better value proposition than the new 992 Porsche 911.
2. Configurable Drivetrain Settings
As the ultimate 8 Series, the M8 Competition boasts a suite of advanced settings not available on other models. DeMuro focuses on the Competition’s customization options for good reason: It’s quite possible they’re one-of-kind.
One such setting relates to the brakes. Owners will have the option to set their Competition so the brakes grab bit more aggressively. “Usually there’s not configurable brakes but this car has it,” says DeMuro. Similarly, the M8 Competition allows drivers to switch off xDrive, which essentially makes the coupe a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
Mainstream automakers like Ford and General Motors equip some of their models with a similar feature, but those are for front-wheel drive vehicles. Plus, those vehicles will re-activate all-wheel drive automatically if they detect slippage. BMW’s system is truly unique.
3. Dedicated M Mode Buttons
BMW designed the M8 Competition to be as configurable as possible. This extends to M Mode, which contains numerous opportunities for owners to customize the Competition’s ride and handling as they see fit. “Instead of just putting it in sport mode and just letting the computer do it for you, you can configure how you want the engine, the suspension, the chassis to feel,” says DeMuro.
That’s not entirely unique in the industry, but what separates BMW is their inclusion of not one, but two dedicated steering wheel buttons for owners. Realistically, most owners probably won’t use both buttons. But it’s great for those who will routinely take their Competition on spirited drives.
3. BMW’s ‘Caring Car’ Program
BMW designed the M8 Competition as a performance vehicle. Fortunately, they didn’t scrimp on amenities either. DeMuro discovered a very interesting feature included with the coupe. “Caring Car” serves as a mood adjuster of sorts. Basically, the car creates an ambiance in the cabin designed to either calm the driver down or give them an energy boost. It’s automated too.
“To me the most amazing thing about Caring Car is that it just kind of does it for you,” says DeMuro. A feature like this is really what separates BMW from other automakers. Pretty cool!
4. Integrated Recording
BMW joins Tesla in offering owners the ability to record and save footage of their driving. This is an excellent feature that could really benefit owners after a car accident because it provides irrefutable proof of what happened. External dash cameras perform the same function but they’ll never be fully integrated into the car. Built-in recording is the most elegant solution.
5. Lighted M8 Badges
Finally, we have BMW’s inclusion of illuminated seat badges as a feature worth talking about. Like the other entries on this list, the lighted badges deserve recognition because they’re utterly unique. Obviously, someone buying an M8 or M8 Competition is looking for performance above all else. But it’s gratifying to see BMW personalize their M Series vehicles for these particular owners.
“It’s a very small thing, but it’s a nice piece of attention to detail reminding you that you have a special car,” says DeMuro. We couldn’t agree more.
Ultimately, DeMuro comes away impressed with the M8 Competition. “This is an amazing car. Impressive to drive, seriously fast, and quite luxurious,” says DeMuro. His in-depth videos are a bit long but always worth watching. The M8 Competition contains a host of interesting features and he covered pretty much all of them.
We can’t wait to see what BMW he reviews next.