DRIVELIFE
2021 BMW M8
Competition Carbon Core Edition Written by DriveLife online
Last month, I spent two weeks and 2,000km behind the wheel of the BMW M440i. It is a great car, and left me wondering if 285kW of power from that delicious twin-scroll turbo 6-cylinder was enough for New Zealand roads. Was there really a need for a car like the $350,000 M8 Competition, with its two twin-scroll turbos and a 4.4-litre V8 engine? THE RANGE You get to pick from either a 2-door version of the M8 - called the M8 Competition Coupe, or a 4-door version, the M8 Competition Gran Coupe. The wheelbase of the four-door car is 200mm longer than the coupe to give more rear legroom (spoiler alert: it needs it). Both run two twin-scroll turbos attached to a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, putting out 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque. Each has BMW’s all-wheel-drive system that they call xDrive. Performance is listed at 3.2 seconds to 100km/h, and fuel consumption is 10.4L/100Km. Standard equipment on both is high, as you’d expect it to be. This includes an M Sport exhaust system, an M carbon engine cover, 20" M light-alloy wheels with performance tyres, an M Sport Differential, M Steptronic Sport transmission, tyre pressure indicator, alarm system, automatic boot opener, keyless entry and
start, soft close doors, BMW Display Key, M Carbon roof, floor mats in velour, active seat ventilation in the front seats, electric lumbar support, carbon fibre interior trim, M seat belts, Heat Comfort package, front (includes seat heating, steering wheel heating and heated armrests), High-Beam Assist, Driving Assistant Professional, BMW Laserlights, Parking Assistant Plus, Teleservices (including ConnectedDrive Services, Connected Package Professional, Drive Recorder). There’s also wireless phone charging, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, BMW Night Vision with person recognition, a DAB tuner, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, M Sport Seats, M Rear Spoiler, BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line, M Competition Package, M Driver's Package, BMW Individual fullleather 'Merino' upholstery, a heads-up display (HUD), an Alcantara headliner, automatic wipers, automatic headlights, BMW Gesture Control, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, 1 12.3” high-resolution
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central display, dual-zone AC, and electric front seats. You can option carbon fibre ceramic brakes with matte gold callipers and M logo if you wish at $16,500. The M Carbon Exterior Package at $7,500 includes the front apron (air intake inserts, front left and right), mirror caps, the rear spoiler, and the rear diffuser. Our test car was fitted with this package, bringing the as-tested price to $350,400.
PRICING • •
BMW M8 Competition Coupé $332,900 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé $326,900
You can read more about the M8 Competition on BMW New Zealand’s website.
