BMW M8 GRAN COUPE

Lighting the wick on Munich’s latest four-door rocket

-  LOUIS CORDONY

ENGINE 4395cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo

POWER 460kW @ 6000rpm

TORQUE 750Nm @ 1800-5800rpm

0-100KM/H 3.58sec (tested)

WEIGHT 1980kg • PRICE $354,900 3.5 Rating

LIKE: Tremendous grunt; decent exhaust note; nice ride; cosseting refined interior

DISLIKE: Cheaper four-door V8 options at BMW; 2WD a bit terrifying without DSC​

THERE’S A LOT TO DRINK in when sizing up the new BMW M8 Gran Coupe. For starters it’s an M6 Gran Coupe essentially reborn on a new platform, within a new skin and bearing a fancier name.

In person its visual package still commands a presence our car’s Ametrine metallic purple only amplifies. Yes, while its fastback styling is more obvious when ogled from a front-three quarter angle, its slanted C-pillar helps hide the fact an M8 coupe has been stretched to 5098mm to accommodate a pair of doors. Importantly this adds 200mm worth of wheelbase and the chance to seat a fourth passenger thanks to a new extra seatbelt. But, they’re going to have to be keen on the ride, given they’ll need to straddle a tunnel that extends from the central glovebox to the rear bench.