The BMW M5 Competition and M8 Competition may feature the same engine but this video reveals it is the M8 that has the performance advantage.
Both cars share a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that offers up 617 hp at 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque between 1,800 and 5,800 rpm. The M5 Competition and M8 Competition pair this engine to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission that sends power through all four wheels. The Bavarian duo also feature potent launch control systems.
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During the drag races run by CarWow between the two, it was the M8 Competition that was able to launch off the line far more consistently and with greater ferocity. It was able to record a best quarter-mile time of 11.0 seconds while the M8 Competition needed 11.7 seconds to run down the quarter-mile. However, the host notes that a previous M5 Competition tested by the publication record a quarter-mile of 11.1-seconds while another set a best time of 12.4-seconds, indicating that the launch control system doesn’t always work as it should.
Of more interest than the drag races are the rolling races between the two. With no launch control issues to worry about, both the M8 and M5 accelerate at almost an identical rate but the more slippery shape of the M8 does help it to inch ahead.
Last but not least, there is a brake test between the two. We won’t ruin the result for you but it is very, very close.