The BMW M8 Competition Grand Coupe from Napleton News by Napleton

The BMW M8 Competition Grand Coupe is one of the slickest four-door sedans on the road today. It’s also a bad-ass when it comes to acceleration, handling and at the end of a sprint, braking. But with the description “Competition” in the name, would you be taking it to the track? Here at Napleton News, we work hard for our money, so the answer would be no. But you? Go knock yourself out. It’s your $150,000!

What’s under the BMW M8 Competition Grand Coupe’s Hood?

The M8 Competition Grand Coupe is powered by a specially-built 4.4-liter twin turbocharged V8 engine. This mill (officially) makes 617 horsepower, but from our seat-of-the-pants dynamometer, we think it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 HP. Torque checks in around 553 lb-ft so needless to say, it’s a stump puller that allegedly rivals many McLaren supercars. There aren’t many McLaren cars near where we live so I didn’t have time to check it out exactly.

The engine is an amazing piece of technology in a relatively small package. The twin turbos live in the valley between the camshafts for a shorter run length to the turbos. From there, it’s a straight shot to the performance exhaust system. If you think the exhaust is a bit too subtle, push the enhancement button on the console for an extra bit of growl.

The engine matches up to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW all-wheel drive. The M8 rides on an all-aluminum dual wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear kit for extremely precise handling. Since it is the Competition model, it includes stiffer engine mounts, loads of chassis bracing, 10 percent stiffer springs, and a ride height that has been lowered an inch and a half for better aero and handling overall. To wrap it up, the M8 Competition rides on a set of 20-inch rims and sport tires.

How does the Napleton crew think the M8 looks?

Think of a love child between BMW’s M4 coupe and the M5 sedan. Roughly the same size, there’s a certain sexiness from this body style. Sure, it has the long nose/short tail look that we think looks boss, but the added cherry on top is the carbon fiber roof panel and trunk lid spoiler.  The Napleton crew likes the looks so far…

Interestingly enough, the M8 Competition Grand Coupe has managed to avoid getting the new “all nostril” look seen on some other BMW vehicles. Saved by the bell is a likely metaphor here. Or maybe it was just plain lucky.

How about inside the M8 Competition? Napleton News takes a deep dive.

The interior of the M8 Competition is a great place to get to work. It features Sakhir Orange leather seats covering traditional M series seats. They are a better choice than the carbon fiber “nut buster” versions that some buy and end up disliking almost instantly. Refer to the seat’s nickname for reasons to avoid them.

The steering wheel was adjustable into a perfect position that was not too high or too low. Paddle shift levers are included but we honestly never found the need, or desire to use them. The other thing: The M8 Comp is a four seater. Although it is a four-door sedan, a rear console that will prevent a third (middle row) passenger from sitting in the second row.

Behind the wheel of the BMW M8 Competition Grand Coupe.

Push the red button and the 4.4-liter twin turbo jumps to life. It’s a throaty gurgle that makes your hair stand on end. Click the gear selection lever to the right and it selects Drive. Click it again and it goes to the first of eight gears from the ZF 8-speed transmission. Practice this first! We weren’t aware of that function and double clicked the trans into first gear. It’s embarrassing, especially with cars all around you at a stoplight.

Once we realized our mistake, we were on our way. The adjustable seats allowed us to get properly fitted, but we weren’t able to flatten the lumbar support to nil. Despite being at the lowest setting, it still felt as though it was pushing us in the center of our back.

Acceleration is massive with this engine. Smoothly progressive, it surges forward relentlessly, pushing you into the seat. Handling was stellar, and the steering ultra-precise. It was as though you would think of where you wanted to put the car and a few seconds later, you were there.

You can’t ask for a better response from the M8. But hey, let’s lose the “Competition” moniker, huh?

Specifications:

2023 BMW M8 Competition Grand Coupe
Engine Type	4.4-liter Twin Turbo V8 engine
Horsepower	617 hp @6,000 rpm
Torque	553 lb-ft 1,800-5,860 rpm
Transmission	8-speed M Steptronic
Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Hwy)	17 avg / 15 city/ 22 hwy
Suspension F/R	Double Wishbone/Multilink
Turning Circle	39
Also Available	Base Models
Specs
Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	Not Rated
Max Seating Capacity	4
Wheelbase	111.1 inches
Overall Length	191.2 inches
Width	74.9 inches
Height	53.0 inches
Cargo Room	14.8 cubic feet
Headroom, Front	38.9 inches
Headroom, 2nd	33.6 inches
Legroom, 1st	42.1 inches
Legroom, 2nd	29.5 inches
Shoulder room, 1st row	57.2 inches
Shoulder room, 2nd row	46.9 inches