BMW's most powerful M-engine yet powers the 2019 M8 Competition and it's headed to SA

The new BMW M8 Coupe and BMW M8 Competition Coupe as well as the new M8 Convertible and M8 Competition Convertible will be available in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Powered by the most powerful M engine yet, featuring a high-revving 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developing 441kW and 750Nm, and a massive 460kW in the competition models. 

Like other M models, the M8 adopts an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, and the engine’s power is channelled to the road via an all-wheel-drive system.

The new performance models will make their world premieres as part of the BMW Group #NextGen event taking place at BMW Welt in Munich on 25 – 27 June 2019.

The car 

BMW says the chassis has been tuned for track use in mind and in the M8 a newly developed integrating braking system is available offering the driver two different brake pedal feel settings. 

But M cars are all about performance, so we bet you're dying to know how fast the automaker claim it gets to 100km/h from standstill? 

The Coupe and Convertible models power from 0 to 100km/h in 3.3 and 3.4 seconds respectively while the Competition Coupe sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, the Competition Convertible in 3.3 seconds.

As with the latest M5, BMW offers its xDrive all-wheel-drive system with its rear-biased setup. The automaker reckons the centrally controlled interaction between M xDrive and the Active M Differential ensures loss-free transfer of the engine’s huge power to the road.

Via the Setup menu, the driver can choose between the default 4WD setting and 4WD Sport mode, which diverts a larger slice of engine power to the rear wheels. Deactivating DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) brings 2WD mode into the equation. 

The M8 models are also equipped as standard with M-specific Adaptive suspension including electronically controlled dampers and electro-mechanical M Servotronic steering. 

In M dynamic mode the car allows for greater wheel slip for the driver to execute lekker 'controlled' drifts, says BMW. 

In terms of wheels, the standard specification includes 20" M light-alloy wheels in twin-spoke design and high-performance tyres (front: 275/35 R 20, rear: 285/35 R 20). 

The new Coupe model wears the double-bubble contour of its carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof.