The 2020 BMW M8 Competition, in the coupe form, just made its debut in Japan as well. The super sporty coupe was unveiled weeks ago and it’s now slowly to arrive in countries around the world. The images below show the Frozen Marina Bay Blue Metallic and, of course, with the right-hand steering wheel.
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Obviously, the new BMW M8 is based on the standard 8 Series but has had everything turned up to eleven.
Under the long, sculpted hood of the M8 lies essentially the same engine as in the F90 BMW M5. So it’s a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that, in standard guise, makes 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Those are the same figures as the standard M5 and that’s honestly to be expected.
According to BMW, the M8 Coupe can get from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.3 seconds. Like the M5, though we suspect the M8 will be a few ticks quicker than that, potentially breaking into the 2-second range.
The M8 Competition uses the same engine but make 625 hp and the same 553 lb-ft of torque. That little bit of extra power is said to drop its 0-62 mph time by one tenth, doing it in 3.2 seconds. Again, like the M5 Competition, we suspect it will drop into the 2 seconds range.
According to BMW, the M8 road car has had its chassis and suspension tuning developed with lessons learned from the M8 GTE race car. It’s also been given a stiffer anti-roll bar at the rear and both a steel X-brace and an aluminum transverse strut, for increases rigidity.
The M-style side mirrors, decklid spoiler, added aero bits at the front and quad exhausts all combine to make the BMW M8 even better looking than the already quite beautiful M850i. It looks especially good in M8 Competition guise, with its carbon fiber mirrors and spoiler, as well as gloss-black trim and badges. It also gets a sort of double-bubble carbon fiber roof, a design that’s mirror in its rear spoiler.
Inside, the BMW M8 gets a few unique updates that separate it from its regular siblings. For starters, it gets new seats, with thicker side bolsters and a new diamond-esque inlay pattern. That same new pattern is present on the door panels as well and looks really quite good with a two-tone color scheme.
A new shift lever replaces the M5’s robot-leg knob and it looks much better. It’s now covered in black leather with red contrast stitching, giving it a more sportier look while also looking more premium than the plastic square in the M5.
First drives of the M8 are scheduled for this fall, so just a bit longer until we find out how great this M8 really is.
[Source: MotorFlair]
Big in Japan?
Big everywhere.
Make Bmw great in Japan.
Bmw has played a very small factor in Japan compared to other major markets, but since the free trade agreement between the EU and Japan and the release of the 8 series, the situation for Bmw in Japan should hopefully change dramatically in the near future…
BMW is huge in Japan compared to other non JDM brands. Where BMW is facing resistance in the country is the demographic paradigm shift, shrinking economy, and stagnant automotive market. In general Japan used to be a major market for all makers, but it’s now being downgraded to secondary or below. Tokyo Motorshow is a prime example. In 2007 we saw the unveil of Nissan GTR, Lamborghini Reventon, prior to that Ferrari had the Enzo and in general BMW and Mercedes brought their best; for 2019, BMW is sadly not going to be present in the event.
Bmw might be big in the area where you live, but when you take a look at the monthly sales report, you will recognize it’s not that much as it supposed to be, compared to countries like UK, South Korea, Germany, USA, China.
This is exactly the point I am trying to make. Aging population and poor economic development is preventing BMW from achieving higher sales goals. Mercedes and other brands are faced with same issue. Only cars that sell well in rural Japan are local eco cars, which are nowhere near the price point of entry level BMW or even Mini
M8 Competition not about volume.
Time to bring in electric if your top end M Competition car can’t break into the 2 second range.