BMW M8 Gran Coupe 2020: design, specs, price and UK release

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The wraps have finally come off the four-door Gran Coupe version of BMW’s M8 flagship, following months of spy shots and rumours.

The new arrival is based on the standard four-door 8 Series Gran Coupe but gets an aggressive makeover, with a more angular front bumper and a quad-exhaust system, as well as a significant boost in power.

The M8 Cran Coupe joins the German carmaker’s two-door coupe variant and a new drop-top Cabriolet model, completing the company’s flagship performance range.

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The latest entry to the performance car market will face some tough competition. The Porsche Panamera Turbo has been car buyers’ go-to four-door coupe for more a decade, while the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door brought saloon practicality to the company’s flagship sports car earlier this year.

Here’s everything we know about the new M8 Gran Coupe - and how it stacks up against its rivals:

Price and release

Only the top-spec M8 Competition Gran Coupe will be available in the UK, with prices expected to start around £120,000, according to Evo.

That would place the new car right in the middle of its competitors when it comes to cost, with the AMG GT 4-Door priced at £121,495 and the Panamera Turbo at £117,918.

Orders for the four-door M8 are open now, with deliveries set to get begin in early 2020.

Design and interior

Like the two-door M8 Competition, the Gran Coupe models gets a sporty new look that includes reworked bumpers, a carbon-fibre boot spoiler and a wider track.

The wheels have been enlarged to 20in, while the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s metal roof has been swapped for a plastic version reinforced with carbon fibre, says Auto Express. The newcomer also gets a new active quad-exhaust system, which can amplify the sound of the engine with the flick of a switch.

Meanwhile, the car’s wheelbase has been stretched by 200mm to accommodate an extra set of doors and free up more legroom for passengers in the back.

The cabin’s design is identical to that of the two-door M8 models. Drivers get a 10.5in infotainment screen and a 12.3in digital instrument panel as standard, but can “spend even more money by leafing through the options list”, says CarBuyer.

Engine and performance

The M8 Gran Coupe model gets the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that powers “the upper echelons of BMW M’s range”, says Evo. In Competition form, the motor develops 616bhp and 553lb-ft of torque, with power channelled to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe can charge from a standstill to 62mph in 3.2 seconds, says Autocar. Top speed is limited to 155mph, but can be raised to 190mph through the optional M Driver’s Package.

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe tops the regular 577bhp AMG GT 4-Door on power, though the S variant just edges the BMW with 631bhp. The Panamera Turbo is the least powerful of the bunch, with its twin-turbo V8 producing 74bhp less than the M8.