2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe

The 2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe is the top performer in BMW's 8 Series lineup. It shares the same swept-roof four-door design as the regular Gran Coupe model, but it adds a performance suspension, aerodynamic bodywork, and a thunderous 617-horsepower V8 engine. (For comparison, the regular Gran Coupe's optional V8 tops out at 523 horsepower.) The M8 received a few upgrades last year, including new lights, a larger infotainment display and carbon-fiber sport seats, so 2024 is a quiet year with no changes. That's not a bad thing, as the M8 is an extraordinary performer as is. But it fuels speculation about the M8's future as it enters its fifth year in production, often a milestone for big updates. A fully electric version has been suggested as a replacement.

Apart from its unique look, why might you want the M8 Gran Coupe instead of the stately, roomier 7 Series sedan? The difference of about 600 pounds is one answer. The M8 Gran Coupe is slimmer, lighter and shorter than its executive-shuttle counterpart, and it's surprisingly agile for its ample mass (about 4,500 pounds). The adaptive suspension and powerful brakes allow for high-energy cornering and confident slowing and require little sacrifice in comfort. The M8 soaks up bumps easily and remains remarkably quiet, even on its large wheels and thin sidewall tires. It's oddly practical too relative to the larger 7 Series, offering nearly 2 more cubic feet of trunk space.

Other high-performance four-door "coupes" include the Audi RS 7, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S and the Porsche Panamera. The BMW is one of our top picks in this admittedly small segment (our top choice is actually the Alpina specialist-tuned version of the M8) for its blend of power, performance and comfort. The Benz, while even more raucous with its 630-hp V8, lacks the BMW's smooth ride or similar passenger and trunk space. The Audi makes slightly less power, but it gives up little in handling and performance and offers more cargo space at a lower price. The Panamera's blistering performance beats the BMW, covering zero-to-60 mph about half a second faster. But at around $50,000 more than the M8 Gran Coupe, the Porsche equally blisters the wallet.