The 2025 BMW M8 Competition: A Grand Tourer That Thinks It’s a Supercar
For years, the automotive landscape was clearly defined. Sports cars were for speed, luxury cars were for comfort, and SUVs were…well, they were mostly for off-roading, even if they rarely saw a dirt road. But the relentless march of technology has blurred those lines, creating vehicles that excel in multiple domains. Think of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, a family SUV that can embarrass sports cars on a track, or the McLaren 720S, a supercar that’s surprisingly livable day-to-day. In today’s market, capability means everything.
And then there’s the BMW M8 Competition. On the surface, it’s a high-powered, opulent grand tourer. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a surprising amount of genuine sporting intent. As an industry expert with over a decade of experience, I’ve seen my share of cars that try to be all things to all people, but only a few succeed. The BMW M8 Competition ($160,000 price point), however, stands out as a remarkable overachiever.
BMW’s grand touring legacy has been historically focused on, well, grand touring. The original 8-Series was more about effortless cruising than setting lap records. Even the V10-powered M6, while thrilling on the Autobahn, wasn’t exactly a track weapon. The M8 Competition throws that playbook out the window, redefining what a modern M-badged GT can be. It’s a vehicle that excels not just in one area, but across the board.
Performance That Defies Expectations
The M8 Competition, introduced as the M6’s successor, largely sticks to the same formula. Its dimensions are almost identical, with the M8 being slightly shorter, wider, and lower. The curb weight sees a minor increase, but considering it gains an all-wheel-drive system as standard, the weight gain is negligible. But that doesn’t even begin to describe the performance upgrade.
Under the hood, the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 churns out a staggering 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque – a modest increase over the standard M8, but substantial nonetheless. Like many modern performance BMWs, that power is channeled to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The result? A blistering 0-60 mph sprint in a mere 3.0 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph (or 190 mph with the M Driver’s Package).
But here’s the thing: those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Behind the wheel, the M8 Competition feels even faster than the spec sheet suggests. There’s an immediacy and ferocity to the power delivery that’s simply breathtaking. BMW has added mild-hybrid systems to their high-performance SUVs to improve responsiveness, but the M8 feels plenty responsive, even without the added electric boost.
On a challenging back road, you’d need something truly special – a McLaren, a Lamborghini, or a Ferrari – to keep pace with the M8 Competition. And once the road opens up, this luxury GT transforms into a high-speed missile, capable of matching the pace of far more expensive exotics. It takes a bit of mental gymnastics to call a $160,000 super coupe an “overachiever,” but when you consider that you’d have to spend twice as much to achieve similar performance, it’s hard to argue with that assessment. Consider it a performance bargain.
The Delicate Balance of Comfort and Performance
Despite its incredible speed, there’s a slight disconnect between what the speedometer reads and what you feel behind the wheel. The M8’s excellent noise isolation, while contributing to a refined cabin environment, does detract from the visceral driving experience. The electrically assisted power steering and optional carbon-ceramic brakes ($8,150) are incredibly effective and precise, but they offer limited feedback. Even the engine note, which is artificially enhanced through the car’s speakers, sounds muffled in many situations.
Body roll is an unavoidable consequence of the M8 Competition’s size and weight. BMW could have stiffened the adaptive suspension to eliminate body roll, but that would have compromised ride quality. Finding the right balance is crucial, especially in a grand tourer. The M8 Competition’s Adaptive M Suspension strikes a remarkable balance. While slightly firmer than the standard M8, it’s still surprisingly comfortable. It doesn’t completely mask the car’s heft in tight corners, but the trade-off is well worth it for the improved daily drivability.
But don’t mistake body roll for a lack of agility. The M8 Competition handles corners in a way that defies its size and weight. Grip is seemingly limitless, and even with a bit of understeer on corner entry, the all-wheel-drive system allows you to put the power down early on exit. For added thrills, you can even disengage the front wheels entirely and drift through corners like a classic BMW. The softer suspension actually helps in this regard, making the car less snappy and more predictable at the limit.
Grand Touring Prowess
On the open highway, the M8 Competition truly shines. Like its predecessor, it’s most at home cruising at triple-digit speeds on an empty stretch of road. It’s comfortable yet composed, and thanks to the excellent noise isolation, it’s much quieter than you’d expect from a car with an “M” badge. Here, the M8 showcases the other half of its personality, proving equally adept at chasing supercars and devouring cross-country miles. Consider taking it from New York to Los Angeles.
The seats play a major role in the car’s overall comfort. While the cabin is swathed in leather and accented with carbon fiber trim, the seat choice is critical. My test car was equipped with the standard M Sport seats, which are the right choice for this car. The optional carbon-backed bucket seats, while suitable for an M2 or M3, are fundamentally mismatched to the M8’s mission. They might enhance the experience on back roads, but they would detract from the car’s grand touring capabilities.
As the 2025 BMW M8 Competition enters its fifth year on the market, BMW has added new options to its already extensive list of extras. The central infotainment screen has grown from 10.25 inches to 12.3 inches, bringing the car’s interior up to date with the rest of the BMW lineup. The exterior has also received subtle tweaks, including M Shadowline trim for the adaptive LED headlights and new color options such as Frozen Pure Grey, Tanzanite Blue II, and Isle of Man Green. Consider adding a ceramic coating for added protection.
The Verdict: A Modern Marvel
The BMW M8 Competition is a masterclass in using modern technology to make a large, heavy car dance like a lightweight sports car. While it may look like a grand tourer on paper, and its refined cabin certainly reinforces that impression, there’s no denying its sports car DNA. By combining supercar performance with relatively compliant suspension and a luxurious interior, the M8 Competition achieves a duality that few other modern GTs can match. For the $160,000 price tag, this flagship BMW offers a compelling, all-in-one solution. It’s a true testament to what a modern grand tourer should be: fast, comfortable, and surprisingly capable. If you are looking for a luxury car service, the M8 is a great option to consider.
Ready to experience the exhilarating blend of luxury and performance that only the 2025 BMW M8 Competition can offer? Contact your local BMW dealer today to schedule a test drive and discover firsthand what makes this grand tourer a true overachiever.
