BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe 2020 UK review

Опубликованно 06.09.2020 14:30

What is it?

Viewed in an entirely objective sense, quite an appealing prospect. The M8 Competition Gran Coup? is the latest four-door that aims to take the excitement and driver focus of a large, premium sports car and combine it with real everyday usability.  

Aimed smack bang at Porsche’s Panamera and the literally named   Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coup?, the elongated M8 fulfils this multifaceted brief with the help of a 201mm wheelbase increase over the regular two-door model.   What's it like?

It has the potential to be a consummate all-rounder. The new-found length means six-footers can stretch out in the back, with only minor head room grumbles on account of the sloping roof. The boot is 20 litres more generous than the coup?'s, too, although that’s hardly a deal breaker.  

There’s even a ski hatch, itself more useful than the middle seat it occupies, which is effectively unusable for all but small children on account of the hefty transmission tunnel and climate control panel. Still, there’s a fast 5 and 7 Series if you must frequently carry three in the back.  

The weight and dimensions are important to consider as they make the M8 Gran Coup? a good chunk longer and a fraction wider than the already pretty unwieldy-for-Britain   Panamera. Only the aforementioned Mercedes-AMG   (I'm not repeating its full name again)   is wider. Should I buy one?

The Gran Coup? is the most usable M8, that's for sure. But herein lies the nub of the problem that also afflicts the two-door M8. You see, its rivals are similarly competent and capable when the scenery starts getting blurry, but most either offer more character or are the more rounded prospects when it comes to being GT cars.  

The M8 Gran Coup? still feels like a car with a confused personality. The posh cabin is at odds with its road-racer feel and stiff set-up, meaning that it’s not ideally suited to the role of a grand tourer. But it’s too large and complicated to deliver the engaging, thrilling-at-all-speeds driving experience that a traditional sports car offers.

As it stands, BMW’s own M5 is nearly as exciting to drive but is a more practical, comfortable and significantly cheaper prospect. And if you must have the svelte looks and premium image of the 8 Series, the still plenty fast enough M850i feels better set up for British roads.  

Категория: Краш-тесты