The BMW 8-Series is a coupe sitting very near the top of BMW's range. The 8-Series aims to give drivers both an impeccably luxurious car and something stylish and fast; the new 8-Series being one of the best looking cars BMW have ever produced. BMW are aiming to build one of the best luxury cars on the planet with this car, but they're taking a holistic approach to luxury. Being able to accelerate quickly, is a luxury, having a car that's difficult to stop staring at is also a luxury. Of course, having a comfortable ride, leather seats and all the interior tech anyone could want, is a luxury as well and one the new 8-Series provides. It's this all-encompassing approach to luxury that makes the 8-Series special.

The BMW 8-Series is available in different trim levels 840i, M850i xDrive, both in coupe or convertible versions, and the M8. The base model comes equipped with a 3L intercooled turbo 6-cylinder engine making 335HP and the higher trim gets a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 engine making 523 hp. That power is sent to rear wheel or all-four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the M850 is only available in all-wheel drive. The result is startling and immediate acceleration when called upon. BMW is conservatively claiming a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds on the M850, putting the car in the same league as many supercars when it comes to acceleration and performance. And of course, with all-wheel drive, acceleration comes in all weather conditions, pleasant or otherwise.

At the base leave you get features such as 18-inch wheels, soft-close doors, 14-way heated power seats, and high end materials in the interior. The M850 has a bevy of standard features. Included are 20-inch wheels, power-folding, heated side mirrors, keyless entry with push button start, BMW Digital Key, Marino leather upholstery with Nappa leather finish around the dashboard, and an anthracite headliner. The stereo is a 600-watt Harman/Kardon surround sound system with 16-speakers including two subwoofers. SiriusXM radio is included for a year as is HD radio with multicast FM station reception.

The infotainment system is also top notch, featuring a 10.25-inch central information display that can be operated by BMW's iDrive system, via the touchscreen, or simply by voice commands. A heads-up display is also standard along with two USB ports, wireless phone charger, 20GB of media storage and a navigation system. Other electronic goodies include dynamic cruise control, a rearview camera, a power operated trunk lid, automatic climate control, up to 11 predefined selectable interior light designs, rain-sensing wipers, 3-stage heated front seats, a wireless phone charger, a built in wi-fi hotspot and soft-close automatic door operation.

The standard safety features include front and rear head curtain airbag, Lane departure Warning, Frontal Collision Warning, City Collision Mitigation and driver attention alert.

Editors' First Take

2021 BMW M8 by CarBahn Autoworks quick drive review: Crazy on you

Steven Ewing October 1, 2021

Even with its lowered stance, lightweight wheels and extra badges, CarBahn's BMW M8 doesn't immediately scream "tuner car." And when I'm putzing around town, it doesn't feel like one different, either. Sure, the suspension's stiffer, and you can definitely feel some extra power lurking behind the throttle. But by and large, it's an M8 unlike any other M8. That is, until you open it up.

CarBahn Autoworks is a tuning company helmed by Steve Dinan, one of the most prominent names in the world of BMW aftermarket performance. In addition to being a generally rad dude, Dinan has had a hand in a whole mess of hi-po BMWs over the years, and recently got into tuning Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche vehicles through his CarBahn startup. You might remember the CarBahn Mercedes-AMG C63 my coworker Kyle Hyatt tested in 2019.

In other words, Dinan knows a thing or two about making fast cars faster. CarBahn takes BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and fits new air filters, larger heat exchangers, bigger intercoolers and reprograms the engine software, and the result is a smoldering 824 horsepower and 779 pound-feet of torque when running 93-octane fuel -- increases of 207 hp and 226 lb-ft versus a standard M8 Competition coupe. If you've got access to 100-octane race gas, CarBahn says the output raises to an even sillier 882 hp and 795 lb-ft. My goodness.