2023 BMW M8

Since the 2023 BMW M8 only comes in the competition package for this year, you are pretty much limited on options here. If you are looking for a tad bit more practicality in this brutal packaging, the 4-door grand coupe is another option to go for. That said, if you want to spice up the M8, even more, packages like M Carbon bucket seats ($3,800), M Carbon exterior package ($5,400), M Carbon Ceramic brakes ($8,150), and an M Performance Driver’s package ($2,500) which unlocks everything to eleven, are available in the options list at additional cost as mentioned. 

Trims are something you would find short of when getting the BMW M8 2023. It’s either the 2-Door coupe or the 4-Door Gran Coupe, the latter of which would be reviewed separately. Also, similar to the previous year, you only get it in the full-blown Competition package. This package brings to you a full output M-Spec Twin-turbo V8 and the stealth Shadow line exterior trim as standard fitment for the price that you pay. An extended Marino Leather upholstery is also standard for this year, with carbon fiber interior trims, Nappa leather instrument panel lining and an Alcantara headliner helping up the rest of the cabin exude the plush and premium appeal. 

The new bigger 12.3-inch iDrive system boasts a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system while the fully digital BMW live cockpit driver information center remains more or less the same. The Driver Assistance Professional package is also part of standard equipment this year. Options like the M-performance bucket seats, M carbon-fiber exterior package, and M carbon brake rotors are available for an additional cost of $3,800, $5,400, and $8,150 respectively for the 2023 BMW M8.

Release Date

BMW already has the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe for order on their website. The delivery of 2023 model year cars is expected to start soon given the overall package is more or less a carryover from the previous model year. Deliveries should begin by the fourth quarter of this year. 

The 2023 BMW M8 Competition comes powered by a 4.4L Twin-Turbo inline-six engine that we have been familiar with for some years now as it power most of BMW’s flagship sports cars. In this specific vehicle, it is tuned to put out a whopping 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent through a trusty 8-speed ZF torque converter gearbox, which is as quick and responsive as any other dual-clutch transmission, which invariably is thought to be the benchmark these days, which this segment has on offer. 

The power is sent to all four wheels through BMW's new geeked-out xDrive system that makes it possible to record the insane acceleration times and even has got a selectable rear-wheel-drive mode, for those who wish for some extra action from the tail. The drivetrain offers superb traction and the chassis feels solid. Flick the steering and the nose points exactly where you desire to go. Unfortunately, that is where all the good things end. The steering just does feel all that communicative as it should have been. Even though it feels pointy, the disconnect-feel at certain points is quite apparent. 

Even the softest setting might feel a bit harsh if you are not used to these kinds of cars. The BMW M8 Competition undeniably is a great touring machine at the end of the day, but the slightly jolty ride is something that you have to cope with, especially if you have got the car equipped with the optional carbon bucket seats. Although these numbers have become quite casual in the supercar spectrum these days, going 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds in a 4,300-pound 4-seater is an altogether different ball game and a vicious experience as it gets. Give it a dry patch of grippy tarmac, and the brakes would anchor down this 4300-pound beast from 60 MPH to a standstill in about 104 feet.

Like Porsche, BMW has also cooked up some crazy launch control systems in their cars in recent times, which finds traction even in the trickiest of conditions. The F-Type R has the lowest top speed but is also the most affordable of the lot. The R8 on the other hand is the only car here to go beyond the 200 MPH barrier. The 2023 M8 is the quickest off the mark while the other three are about a full second slower. 

We are talking about clapped-out performance cars here and the last thing someone is concerned about would be the fuel economies. However, the 2023 BMW M8 Competition partly being a grand tourer at heart, does need to be a bit efficient here, minding the fact that most owners wouldn’t be caning it all-day-all-night anyways. 

BMW says that the new 2023 M8 will return a maximum of 21 MPG on highways. The EPA rates the 2023 M8 Coupe for 15 MPG in the city and 17 MPG combined. The 20.1-gallon fuel tank is decently big and should give you a real-world range of over 422 highway miles. Both these aspects aren't the best in class and rivals offer better figures. 

The 2023 BMW M8, boasting the most powerful engine here, comes out as one of the least efficient cars here only being overshadowed by the F-Type R with its massive 5.0L Supercharged V8 gas-guzzling motor. The small 18.5-gallon fuel tank on the Jag doesn’t make anything better for it. The Audi’s V10 is surprisingly economical when driving only the rear wheels, managing around 23mpg on the highways and the biggest 21.9-gallon fuel tank helps it squeeze out the best maximum fuel range of 503 miles here. Meanwhile, the Vantage, with its Mercedes-AMG sourced V8 remains the most efficient with the best overall figures.

BMW’s interior has always been something to look up to that has managed to amalgamate styling, functionality, and ergonomics in the best way possible. Although the overall layout of the 2023 BMW M8 Competition might feel eerily similar to some of the cheaper BMWs we have seen (most of them actually), the quality, fit and finish of stuff are some of the best on what they have to offer. The new standard Marino leather upholstery, carbon-fiber interior inserts, Nappa leather finished instrument panel lining and the Alcantara headliner all come together for a pleasant experience. 

The stock 16-way power-adjustable M-Sport seats feel really good and have all types of adjustments that anyone could possibly think of. The chunky M-Sport steering wheel falls into hand perfect, which, by the way, is the best in the business when it comes to size and physical feel. You got lots of space in the front row, but every step of adjustment does eat into the second-row legroom, which in reality is non-existent. It is best used as secondary cargo space for all your valuable stuff that can’t go in the cargo bay. You could also equip M-Sport racing bucket seats at the front, if you are all into driving and not comfort. The equipment list on this car is also elaborate and there is nothing that we felt that is a miss.

The BMW M8 2023, boasting the longest wheelbase, unsurprisingly comes out as the roomiest car here and also gets an additional second row of seats, although it remains unusable mostly. It also has got the biggest trunk here measuring in at 14.8 cu-ft and adding in the unused rear seats, you won't find the M8 lacking in the cargo area. The rest of the pack is mostly comparable in cabin size, with the Vantage offering an airier and more comfortable cabin while the Audi R8 feels the most cramped.

Some standout interior features of the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe include

• BMW Live Cockpit fully digital instrument cluster
• 16-way power adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation.
• Extended Marino Leather upholstery.
• Carbon fiber cabin trims, Alcantara headliner, and Nappa leather instrument panel finishing
• Multi-zone climate control
• Leather wrapped M-Sport steering wheel with power adjustments
• Wireless phone charger
• Ambient lighting

How intuitive is the 2023 BMW M8’s infotainment system?

The new iDrive system is not the slickest infotainment system we have used, say like Mercedes’s MBUX systems, but it definitely does come packing in all the tech in the books. That’s said we are not fans of the scroll and touch physical control implementation and would straight up use the touchscreen functionality. The screen does get a size upgrade for this year and 12.3-inches now becomes the standard size. Features like Apple Carplay, Android Auto, intelligent voice assistant, and Navigation with real-time traffic info updates come in as standard for the M8 Competition. A 16-Speaker 464-Watt Harman Kardon audio system is also a part of the standard equipment list. 

Standout infotainment features available with the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe:

• 12.3-inch BMW iDrive infotainment system
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity
• 16-speaker, 464-Watt Harmon Kardon premium audio system
• Sirius XM
• Navigation with real-time traffic update
• Intelligent personal assistant voice command system
• Steering mounted infotainment controls.
• BMW-connected apps.

The 2023 BMW M8 Competition has always been a looker. A long hood and sweptback coupe roofline is a typical design trait that works well on any car for that matter. So, BMW has not tinkered around with the design for this year making it more or less a carryover. Seeing what BMW has done with the new 7-series sedan and SUVs, we would rather hold on to what we think is the last of sleek BMW designs. As for the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe, it gets a full Shadow line exterior trim which includes a blacked-out grille, mirror caps, rear apron spoiler, and the M8 Competition logo.

There is also an option to replace the classic BMW logo with a 50th Anniversary BMW Motorsport logo, which we think looks pretty cool. The redesigned M-Sport 20-inch bi-color wheels, full carbon roof, tiny ducktail spoiler, and quad-tip exhaust pipes give it that all-necessary sporty touch. The rest of the package includes adaptive LED head and tail lights with front programmable daytime running lights, power/heated mirrors, and many other options. There are as many as 11 standard paint color options that buyers can choose from, each of which makes 2023 M8 stand out from the crowd. 

The BMW M8 2023 being the biggest car here, is the heaviest of the bunch. However, the higher power output and nimble dynamics do mask this disadvantage to a great extent. The F-Type r with its big supercharged V8 weighs in the second most followed by the Vantage. The Audi R8, despite bosting a big V10 and being one of the widest cars here, manages to come out as the lightest. Taking off the drive from the front wheel has helped this Audi shed some real weight.

Some of the standout exterior features on the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe include:

• Adaptive LED headlamps/ tail lamps
• Programmable DRLs
• Full Shadow line exterior trim
• Full-carbon fiber roof
• 20-inch M-Sport Bi-spoke bi-color wheels
• Power/ heated side mirrors

The 2023 BMW M8 is developed under the BMW Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform that it shares with its sister products like the BMW 7 Series sedans and the X7 SUV. Both the NHTSA and the IIHS haven't crash tested the BMW M8 in recent times and hence there are no safety ratings available. 

Considering the premium price tag and low sales volume nature of the car, we do not expect it to be tested anytime soon either. While a Driver assist package is available as standard with the 2023 M8, every advanced feature like lane departure warning, blind-spot assistance, and adaptive cruise control comes at an additional cost which is a bummer for this high of a price tag.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 BMW M8 Competition include:

• Auto emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Lane Following, Keeping, and Departure Assist (Available)
• Blind-spot detection (Available)
• Adaptive cruise control (Available)

2023 BMW M8 Coupe vs 2023 Aston Martin Vantage V8 Coupe

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is an expensive car. I guess that is what you pay for some British elegance although the heart of the matter is basically German. The Vantage and the M8 would be the most comparable has when it comes to purpose and agility here. While the BMW M8 comes out noticeably bigger and quicker on its feet, the V8 Vantage regains ground with its drool-worthy design and exceptional presence. Though our enthusiastic minds would blatantly recommend the BMW M8, there is something that attracts us to the Vantage despite its higher price tag. Also, Aston Martin has been cooking up a V12 vantage for one last time in limited numbers. So if you have got over $200,000 lying around, you might as well take a look at it. 

2023 BMW M8 Coupe vs 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

To be honest, here, the Jaguar F-Type lineup of cars has long lost its appeal. Not only are we not fans of the way it drives, nor are we digging what Jaguar has done with the front end of this car, which was previously known to be one of the best-looking coupes in current times. The only thing that we think it does better than the 2023 BMW M8 is in making better exhaust noises and that’s it. The Jaguar F-Type has always been a standout option with a style statement, which stays true for this model year as well, but if you are looking for a daily-drivable, super fun, and decently practical car, the 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe is the better car here to choose from. 

2023 BMW M8 Coupe vs 2022 Audi R8 V10 Performance Coupe

The Audi R8 has been in the old dog in this game. Though it might look like the odd one out here with its mid-engine layout, we had to bring something that is “really” sporty to the fight, given the price bracket it competes is almost the same. The Audi R8 has always been a fun car and the RWD option just made everything better. We absolutely adore that air-breathing V10 as well. However, as things stand, the 2023 M8 Competition Coupe comes out as the nicer overall packaging with comparable dynamics, better performance, space, comfort, and usability, we have to go with the BMW here. A new R8 is in the works, and that should take the game back easily once it comes out. 

The 2023 BMW M8 Competition Coupe is among the only front-engine 2-door 4-seater luxury German sport coupes that one could get their hand on. Even though most car mentioned in the article are not in direct competition with the 2023 M8, the performance, packaging, and pricing does make it a sensible comparison here. Though the handling just falls short of what expect from BMW, especially after experiencing the latest M5, the pure brute force with which this coupe slams you to the seats on the throttle is just electrifying.