Hot on the heels of the less powerful 8 Series models, the BMW M8 Competition has arrived with an updated look. As with the M8's siblings, the upgrades are mostly minor, and fans will be pleased to know that the high-powered V8 petrol engine remains, as do the three now-familiar body shapes.
Small tweaks
Like the 8 Series, the latest-generation M8 Competition looks much the same as the outgoing M8 Competition. There's the same basic shape, the same muscular styling and a very similar interior.
However, BMW has tweaked the range with new paint options, including Skyscraper Grey metallic, Brooklyn Grey metallic and Isle of Man Green metallic, as well as Tanzanite Blue metallic. These are joined by four new 'frozen' paints with a silk matt finish, dubbed Frozen Pure Grey, Frozen Deep Grey, Frozen Deep Green and Frozen Tanzanite Blue.
Similarly minor changes include the addition of new 20-inch alloy wheels with a 'star-spoke' design, and the optional new M lights Shadow Line, with a dark finish for the inlays and chrome detailing inside the standard Laserlight headlamps. The design is intended to complement the high-gloss black finish on the kidney grille.
Vivid colours
Inside, the M8 Competition has inherited the new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the new 8 Series, but the go-faster model also has a few new features of its own. Chief among these is the vivid new Black-over-Sakhir Orange colour scheme for the standard upholstery, which uses a mixture of Merino leather and Alcantara microfibre fabric. The upholstery itself has changed slightly, too, with extra Alcantara on the instrument panel and the door shoulders no matter which colour scheme is specified.
More of the same
The M8's engine is unchanged, which means there's a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 hiding under the bonnet, producing a whopping 625hp and driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. That means 0-100km/h takes just 3.2 seconds in the Coupe and Gran Coupe, while the Convertible is a tenth slower.
Price point
BMW Ireland has confirmed that the M8 Competition Coupe will be priced at €233,605 on the road, undercut by the M8 Competition Gran Coupe at €228,975. The M8 Competition Convertible is priced at €246,545.