2020 BMW M8 Gran Coupe: First Look

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Expanding the Family
Only a few months after BMW debuted the M8 Coupe and Convertible at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Bavarian brand now introduces the next new model in the M8 family — the M8 Gran Coupe. Adding the versatility of four doors and a more spacious interior, the M8 Gran Coupe retains the extreme performance capabilities that unify the entire M8 family.

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More Room
The 2020 M8 Gran Coupe is 9.1 inches longer, 1.4 inches wider and 2.3 inches taller than the M8 Coupe. Passengers will certainly benefit from the increased size. Rear shoulder room grows by 7.7 inches, headroom by 3.5 inches and, most importantly, the car provides 7.1 more inches of rear-seat legroom. The overall size increase does boost curb weight by 185 pounds — a small price to pay for the added comfort and utility. As BMW points out, “This means that the uncompromised near-supercar levels of performance and luxury can be more easily shared with family and friends.” Indeed.

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Big Power
Even with the added space and weight, the M8 Gran Coupe still offers stunning performance. Under the 4-door’s hood lurks a 4.4-liter S63 M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque at a mere 1800 rpm.

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Gran Coupe Competition
For those seeking a bit more power, the M8 Gran Coupe Competition gets a slight bump to 617 horsepower with a wider torque curve for better performance. In addition, engine mounts on the Competition are more rigid, the suspension is stiffer and the M Sport exhaust is standard, enhancing the already wonderful V8 soundtrack. An M Sound Control button allows the driver to select an exhaust note appropriate to the surroundings.

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xDrive
Both M8 Gran Coupe and M8 Gran Coupe Competition get an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission that directs power to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The rear-biased AWD system only sends torque to the front wheels when extra traction is required. This system also reduces the intrusion of the stability control system during spirited road or track driving. Drivers can also choose to keep the M8 in full-time rear drive; however, BMW suggests this mode for experienced drivers only.

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Very Quick
This new vehicle’s acceleration figures are quite impressive — especially for a four door. Sixty mph comes up in 3.1 seconds. The Gran Coupe Competition gets to 60 mph a tenth of a second quicker. Both models are electronically limited to 155 mph; however, the optional M Driver’s Package increases the top speed to 190 mph. Those who opt for the M Driver’s Package also get an invitation to the BMW M Driving School at one of two BMW Performance centers in Greer, South Carolina or Thermal, California.

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Brakes
If a vehicle is engineered to accelerate quickly, it needs to be able to stop quickly as well. The M8 Gran Coupe is equipped with large M Compound brakes that feature drilled and vented disks with 6-piston calipers up front and single-piston calipers at the rear. The car also has available carbon ceramic brakes, which are larger and provide even greater stopping power.

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Vehicle Configuration
The BMW M8 Gran Coupe also allows the driver to change the vehicle’s setup to best fit the road and weather conditions. This includes altering engine response, suspension, steering, braking and AWD systems. The settings can be preset using M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel.

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M Mode
BMW adds an M Mode button to the M8 Gran Coupe, which allows the car to be set up for Road or Sport; a Track mode is available on the Gran Coupe Competition. These settings change the information provided to the driver via the digital instrument cluster and head-up display. The settings also change the level of intervention provided through the driver-assistance systems.

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First Edition
BMW aficionados looking for something special — even more special than a “common” M8 Gran Coupe — have the opportunity to purchase one of 50 M8 Gran Coupe First Editions available to the U.S. market. The First Edition will be based on the M8 Gran Coupe Competition and painted exclusively in Individual Diamant Green Metallic. The exterior trim — including the kidney grille, window surrounds, door mirrors, exterior badging and door sill plates — is finished in GOLDBRONZE. Unique 20-inch forged M Star Spoke wheels are finished in the same gold color, helping the First Edition stand out even more.

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Stylish Interior
The M8 Gran Coupe First Edition cabin features full Merino leather trim in Ivory White / Tartufo with piano black trim. The center console door will include First Edition badging, along with 1/400 to communicate its exclusivity.

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Coming Soon
The BMW M8 Gran Coupe is expected to go into production later this year. Base price for this stylish 4-door flagship pencils in at $130,000, and the M8 Gran Coupe Competition has a sticker of $143,000. The M8 Gran Coupe First Edition will arrive next March, although pricing has not been released for this exclusive variant.

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