This is not my first time testing the 8-Series in Grand Coupe form. Last year I tested the Alpina B8 version (one of the best cars I have ever driven), but it was my first time behind the wheel of the full rock-and-roll version, the 2025 BMW M8 Competition.
I picked up the car at the JFK airport in New York after returning from my trip to Italy for Ville d’ Este. I live in the Hartford, Connecticut, area, but flew out of JFK because there was a direct flight to Milan available. I knew about the drive back and had arranged the car pickup before leaving for Italy the week before.
It did not occur to me that I would be driving back home from JFK in Monday NYC rush-hour traffic. After realizing this, I put the car in Comfort Mode for the endless stop-and-go traffic indicated by the onboard navigation system, which made the tediously slow drive tolerable enough.
Once I got over the Tappan Zee Bridge, I switched the car to Sport Mode and quickly made tracks back to Connecticut. Now I could see what the car was capable of. If you think of the M8 Competition as a four-door supercar, then you get the picture. The car accelerates at a stupid fast rate—and not just from 0-60 either, but from 60 up to the triple digits. This car just pulls like few other gas-powered cars.
The car’s cabin is also a very nice place to spend time. Despite having “Competition” at the end of its model name, this amazing BMW still has every option that makes the 8-Series a luxury sports sedan. The interior materials—from the open-pored wood trim to the leather-covered seats, dash and even the door pockets—express a look and feel of absolute luxury.
In addition, I was happily surprised to find that the 2025 8-Series have yet to change over to the single big screen featured on every other model. I am not a fan of the single screen and prefer a traditional instrument binnacle in front of the driver, with auxiliary controls on the center screen. The M8 also still has—wonder of wonders—buttons for climate control, something I really miss in other BMWs. If you think of the 2025 M8 Comp as a throwback to the last series of BMW cars but with none of the shortcomings of an older model, you would be correct. It is, in essence, the best of modern BMW cars in terms of its control layout.
The next day I took the M8 on some nearby twisty roads and, while it does not seem as aggressive as the old M5 Competition, the M8 Competition is actually both quicker and faster than the old M8. Handling-wise, the M8 is tiny bit less nimble than the old M5—but not by much. It also has what is possibly the best steering feel of any current BMW model. The M8 Competition easily delivers on BMW’s tagline promise of being the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” with the keyword being “ultimate.” The xDrive system lets the big car dig hard in corners and then propel you out of them like few other cars in its category. Did I mention the four-door supercar bit yet?
If you don’t believe the supercar reference, consider these stats: the 2025 M8 Competition is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 with 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque and backed by an eight-speed automatic that delivers power to all four wheels. As an added bonus, you can also disable traction control and send power to only the rear wheels. According to Car and Driver test, this powertrain gives the M8 0-60 mph results of an unbelievable 2.5 seconds. Do believe it, though: I did a quick test with the car and, without trying too hard, saw a 2.7 0-60 run. This puts the M8 Competition firmly in league with cars such as the Turbo S and Bugatti Chiron—and it is capable of a 190-mph top speed with the M Driver’s Package.
After a few days with the M8 Competition, the press fleet people picked it up and I waved goodbye. Unlike the Alpina B8, I did not want to chase it down the road and get it back, but the M8 Competition is a different kind of 8-Series. Where the Alpina model is a true GT car, the M8 Competition is much more of a sports car, with a bit more precise steering, higher horsepower, and more aggressive suspension. I prefer the B8 as I am more of a GT car guy, but if you are sports car guy who loves track days, and uncompromising cornering ability and performance over more creature comforts and the ability to have a softer ride, then the 2025 BMW M8 Competition is the obvious choice in the category.
No, it is not inexpensive—with a base price of $138,800 and an as-tested price of $171,575—but it is a lot less than any supercar I can think of and had the ability to accommodate four adults, unlike a supercar. You can also lease one for $1,529 a month, which seems pretty reasonable to me. If you are interested in the M8 Competition, you can find more info on the link at the top or have fun building one online here.