2023 BMW M8 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The beauty of a BMW is in how it drives, not how it looks. Rarely has a BMW stunned with its aesthetic appeal, and that’s especially true with the modern crop of cars and SUVs wearing the blue-and-white roundel badge. The family of 2023 BMW M8 models is no exception, though it remains blessedly free of the narrow and tall kidney grilles currently desecrating several of the automaker’s models.

Indeed, the two-door 2023 M8 Coupe and M8 Convertible and the four-door M8 Gran Coupe grand tourer emit a strong scent of performance-tuned style. However, the Gran Coupe’s nearly 20-centimetre wheelbase stretch, rear doors, and taller roofline result in proportions that are not as elegant as the two-door models. That’s the price you’ll pay to carry two extra people in relative comfort.

Our BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe arrived with Brooklyn Grey paint, one of the five new paint colours for 2023. With a base new car price of $154,500 before the $2,480 freight and PDI charge and other fees, our U.S.-specification M8 included Sakhir Orange full Merino leather upholstery, heated rear seats, and more.

The Sakhir Orange leather looks red, and after a while, it seems excessive. But the M8 Competition Gran Coupe’s cabin is impeccably assembled and beautifully tailored in high-quality materials, including a full Alcantara suede headliner. With every drive, you’re reminded what the car’s price is paying for.

If you’re familiar with modern BMWs, you’ll feel right at home inside the M8. The controls, displays, and layout are instantly familiar, except for the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. However, the larger screen is nicely integrated with the dashboard and doesn’t block your view. If we have any quibbles with the M8’s cabin, we’ll say the electronic transmission shifter is a little fussy.

Open the BMW M8’s hood, and you’ll discover a beauty and a beast. Packaged for visual appeal but with enough mechanical detail exposed to titillate driving enthusiasts, the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine nestles into the engine bay as low and as far back as it will fit. It makes power specs of 617 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque between 1,850 rpm and 5,860 rpm. Yummy.

An eight-speed M Sport automatic transmission with Drivelogic shift control delivers the power to all four wheels through an M Sport Differential and M-tuned xDrive all-wheel-drive system (AWD) that can operate in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mode to mimic a single-axle drivetrain if you prefer. BMW claims this powertrain accelerates the M8 Competition Gran Coupe to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and, with the optional M Driver’s Package, will reach a top speed of 305 km/h. We did not validate these claims with fancy equipment or a rented airport runway. But we can say the BMW M8 is stupendously fast.

Yet, the M8 is also remarkably docile. We used it for a week in the suburbs, shuttling kids to school, sitting in traffic, running errands, and attending to the details of daily life. Aside from its firm ride, grabby brakes, grouchy transmission on chilly mornings, and challenging entry and exit acrobatics, you’d never guess this luxury car contains the hardware and firepower to handily dispatch most of the vehicles on the road, whether in a straight line, on a mountain road, or at a racetrack.

We liked the M8 Gran Coupe well enough before taking it for a romp across the local mountains. Here though, on a quiet Sunday evening during the hour before sunset, we fell in love; the BMW demonstrating more than a hint of its unreal acceleration, braking, grip, and overall athleticism.

BMW fortifies the M8 Competition with 20-inch wheels wrapped in performance run-flat tires, an Adaptive M suspension, six-piston M Compound brakes, and an M Sport exhaust system. Our test vehicle had the expensive M Carbon Ceramic Brakes upgrade ($10,900 in Canada), and it is made to withstand the abuse of hard driving on an undulating road.

As we rounded curve after curve on the utterly deserted blacktop, the M8 enveloped us in its intoxicating engine and exhaust note, the seats providing the perfect amount of lateral support to keep us anchored behind the sensually shaped, thick-rimmed steering wheel. Like other BMWs, the M8 seems to tap directly into your nervous system, feeling hard-wired to your synapses and able to respond to commands the instant your brain issues them. There is no tire squealing. There is no unwanted body motion. There is no steering slop, brake fade, or anything else to distract you from covering ground at unreal rates of speed.

Well, except for the head-up display (HUD) and the paddle shifters. In Sport mode, the HUD switches to show a huge tachometer, a speed readout, and the gear you’re in. That’s it. We started choosing our own gears using the paddles, but before long we realized the HUD and its data had become a focal point instead of the road ahead and the task at hand. Since that’s hazardous to your health and the health of others, we recommend letting the terrific transmission handle the shifting while you ignore the HUD and focus on keeping the M8 shiny side up.

In addition, we thought the steering felt a little too light in Sport mode, and the left windshield pillar is thick enough to block the view of oncoming vehicles when you’re pitching the M8 around a left hairpin corner. But otherwise, there isn’t anything to complain about as far as the M8’s performance, ride, and handling go.

We decided the M8 Competition Gran Coupe–and likely its M8 Competition Coupe and Cabriolet siblings–are stunningly good automobiles whether you’re seeking a truly luxurious vehicle or a track-ready warrior.

As for fuel economy, the official Natural Resources Canada rating is 13.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. In reality, the car performs better than that, unless you’re flogging it non-stop. We averaged 13.1 L/100 km on the testing loop.

While the BMW M8 Gran Coupe offers more utility and practicality than its M8 Coupe and M8 Convertible siblings, it remains something other than a traditional sedan. For example, it offers a rear centre seatbelt, but with a centre floor console taking up the space where that occupant might want to put their legs and feet, the M8 Gran Coupe is really just a four-passenger automobile.

Up front, you’ll find standard M Sport Seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and illuminated M8 logos. They supply substantial bolstering and adjustable thigh cushions, but when powered all the way back in their tracks they’re tucked behind the centre pillars. Getting in is relatively easy, but getting out can pose a challenge. However, during the drive, these Merino leather-wrapped seats prove mighty comfortable.

As a new-for-2023 option, lightweight M Carbon bucket front seats with racing harness pass-throughs and stiffer bolstering are available. Though they’re heated and power-adjustable, they’re also meant for people who plan to track their M8.

Adults may need to fold themselves in half to get their heads past the M8 Gran Coupe’s sloping roofline, and then they’ll fall into the back seat. However, once they’re aboard, they’ll find the rear seat cushion unexpectedly comfortable with excellent leg support and a perfectly angled backrest. BMW also provides decent foot room and good legroom, but taller people might not be too happy with the headroom. Exiting the back seat is more of a challenge than dropping into it without hitting your head.

In the front portion of the cabin, the M8 Gran Coupe supplies practical storage in the form of a sizable bin underneath the centre armrest and useful cupholders. Unfortunately, the wireless smartphone charging pad is hard to access while driving the car. Rear passengers don’t get much in the way of storage space, aside from cupholders and a shallow tray located on the centre armrest.

If you decide to take a road trip with every seat occupied, make sure everyone packs light because the M8 Gran Coupe has a relatively small 311-litre cargo area. However, the trunk floor offers good space, so with creative loading, it likely holds a decent amount of luggage.

BMW equips the M8 Gran Coupe with a standard Live Cockpit Professional setup including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a head-up display (HUD), and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the automaker’s iDrive 7.0 software. It includes a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and both a wireless charging pad and a Harman Kardon premium sound system are standard.

In addition, BMW equips the M8 with BMW Assist eCall, BMW TeleServices, ConnectedDrive Services, and Connected Package Professional as standard features. You’d think they might come up with just one name to describe this stuff. In any case, some of the highlights include an intelligent digital assistant that responds to a “Hey BMW” wake phrase and recognizes natural speech, quick access to help in an emergency, remote access to some vehicle functions, a stolen vehicle recovery system, and more.

Generally speaking, the iDrive 7.0 system is easy to understand and use, and the new-for-2023 12.3-inch touchscreen display is excellent. The intelligent digital assistant turned in a flawless performance, quickly and accurately responding to all of my typical testing prompts and more. We didn’t even mind the gesture control technology, which seems to work better than what we’ve experienced in previous BMWs (though it’s still a gimmick).

BMW Canada offers an optional Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system for the M8 as part of the Premium Package. We’re sure it’s phenomenal. But the standard Harman Kardon system is pretty terrific, too, so give it a try before paying for the upgrade.

You might be surprised to discover how few driving aids are standard on the BMW M8 Gran Coupe. The Active Guard collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) includes nothing more than forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning.

However, the Driving Assistant Professional feature set, part of the Premium Package, it installs an active blind-spot monitoring system that can try to prevent ill-advised lane changes, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, a semi-autonomous parking assist system, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, active lane-keeping assist, and an extended Traffic Jam Assistant function for use on limited-access highways. In addition, this upgrade adds a Side Collision Avoidance system, Evasion Aid steering support, and a front cross-traffic alert system.

Our test vehicle had all of these features, and we used them during testing. Or tried to. It wasn’t always clear when a particular ADAS was active or what it was doing, despite BMW’s valiant attempts to provide clarity through impressive operational status graphics on both the digital instrumentation display and the HUD.

Mainly, our confusion related to the Assisted Driving Plus visual notifications, which, due to vehicle behaviour, weren’t clear as to whether the tech was on and active or simply ready for use. Trying to determine this feature’s status at any given time was distracting.

Otherwise, all the ADAS features operate with accuracy and precision without drawing attention to themselves. Well, most of the time. On a highway with single travel lanes that widened from one into two and then back from two into one, the lane-keeping system seemed unsure of itself. Likewise, gentle curves could throw it off its game. And after dark, the tech mistook pavement scars from past construction projects as lane markings, resulting in unwanted steering corrections.

When using the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring systems, the M8 responded smoothly when other motorists cut into the gap ahead and accelerated quickly when slower traffic cleared the lane. The automated lane-change assist feature also works well but seems to switch lanes more abruptly than we might if driving for ourselves.

As is true in other BMWs, the lane-keeping assist technology can react aggressively when you wander over a lane marking. At first, you’re surprised by the sudden, sharp, and decisive steering correction. Then, when you realize it was warranted, you feel a little silly, like you don’t know how to drive. And then when you realize that your attention had wandered and the tech actually saved your butt, you’re grateful for it.

At one point during our time with the M8 Gran Coupe, we got a BMW Active Side Collision Protection notification. It activated on a section of the highway where the lanes are narrow, as we drove in moderate traffic. Apparently, this technology activates when there is a “lateral hazard” and will guide the BMW away from “the parallel converging car.” We didn’t see anyone infringing on our lane, and the M8 didn’t take noticeable evasive action, so this event notification was a little confusing.

The BMW M8 Gran Coupe counts the Audi RS 7, Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and Porsche Panamera as its direct rivals. Any of the four has the styling, power, and prestige to satisfy someone seeking a high-performance vehicle in this small and rarified category.

We think the Audi offers a more artful design, and the RS 7 provides nearly as much power as the BMW at a sizable discount. The Mercedes pairs elegant detailing with brutal athleticism in a way that only an AMG-tuned Benz can, but as of this writing, it is significantly down on power compared to the M8 because the AMG 63 S is unavailable. The Porsche is as close to a four-door 911 as you can get, but to obtain power similar to the BMW you’re going to spend tens of thousands more on a Panamera Turbo S.

In addition, all three of these M8 Gran Coupe rivals have a rear liftgate and folding back seats to provide unexpected utility to go with their luxury, technology, and performance. This approach makes them even more appealing.

Nevertheless, we found the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe irresistible. With its easygoing demeanour during the commute and its intensely rewarding dynamics on writhing roads, this BMW is like two cars in one. Add its accessible technology, impeccable quality, and extra room to bring your favourite people along on the ride, and the only thing you might miss from the Audi, Mercedes, or Porsche is the added cargo space and utility afforded by their sportback designs.

Note: Images show a US model.