When the BMW M8 makes its debut, there’s going to be a lot of debate about which its main competitors will be. There are cars like the Lexus LC500 but that’s a bit too tame to properly rival the proper super GT that the M8 will be. One could also argue the Mercedes-AMG GT R but that’s a bit too hardcore. When the BMW M850i first debuted, many enthusiasts felt that the Aston Martin DB11 would be its main competitor and we think that’s correct. But for the BMW M8, it’s going to need something more powerful, more intense than the DB11. That’s where this comes in — the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera.

We’ve discussed the DBS here before but its review embargo has just lifted and there are tons of video and written reviews of it. After reading about it and seeing it in video, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera will be the super GT benchmark, no question. In fact, it’s going to be the car that the BMW M8 will have to beat. Admittedly, the DBS is a lot more expensive than the M8 will be. In fact, it’s probably going to cost multiple M8s. However, price point aside, the two will be very evenly matched, in terms of both performance and fundamentals.

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera boasts a 5.2 liter twin-turbocharged V12 that makes an astonishing 715 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. That torque figure is actually lower than the engine can make but its already-reinforced gearbox can’t handle it. The engine actually continues to limit torque further in first and second gear, so as to not blow the gearbox to pieces. When all of that fury actually gets sent to the road, it can get the big Aston from 0-60 mph in about 3.3 seconds. That seems a bit slow for its power but it just doesn’t have the grip to wrangle all of those horses.

On the flip-side, the BMW M8 will use a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that will make about 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Those are the same figures from the BMW M5, so we’re using them here. But we wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to make more. It will also get and eight-speed gearbox but it will send its power to all four wheels, rather than just its rears, like the DBS. Considering that the M8 will be lighter than the M5, which can nail 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and have the same power, we don’t doubt that the M8 will be just as fast, if not a tick or two faster.

So even though it has less power, the BMW M8 will perform on the same level as the DBS and should be even quicker. Of course, the DBS will be the more luxurious, more exclusive and more premium car but the BMW M8 will be no cow shed and will have boatloads of luxury and tech.

When the BMW M8 comes out, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera will be the benchmark for all premium super GT cars. So the BMW M8 will have to be damn good to stack up against t.