Geneva International Motor Show 2018: BMW M8 Gran Coupe concept

It’s here, the 2018 Geneva Motor Show!! It’s the biggest display of automotive candy, borderline automotive pornography, for the four-wheeled enthusiasts, and this edition brings plenty of amazing new cars to talk about, all week.

The car that I want to start with, is not a Ferrari, or a Porsche, or a Bugatti. It’s this – the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, a four-door concept for what will be the fanciest BMW M car of this era. Why? Because it looks phenomenally cool and tickles our preference for spectacular sedans, with coupe styling and much power. We saw BMW give us a glimpse at the revival of the 8 Series with the concept shown last year, followed by the M8 GTE racecar as well. This one, however, is a different kind of beast and looks intensely exciting in the unveil colour and finish – Salève Vert.

While the production model of the 2019 BMW 8 Series is expected to debut soon, the final spec of the M8 is likely to be scheduled for 2020 sales. The resurrection of the top-level of the BMW line is reportedly a replacement for the 6 Series and will get features to rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupes in terms of luxury and comfort and technology too. The M8 might get the similar M xDrive AWD setup as the M5 with the ability to switch to RWD only, though not sure if the standard 8 Series models will get that benefit. Engines? Plenty to speculate about. A 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol unit for the entry version? Probably. A 4.4-litre V8 turbo unit? Definitely. A 6.6-litre V12 turbo unit? Almost certainly. The power figures are yet to be discussed with the public but a 600bhp+ variant is expected to be the popular one.

Once you get over the green and past the intimidating gaze of those very yellow headlights either side of the larger kidney grilles, there are plenty of details to take in, for the proper M look. The carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) bits around the air intakes, the splitter, the diffuser, on the roof and wherever else BMW sees fit as part of the optional extras for customers to tick off on their order forms.

What do you think of the BMW M8 Gran Coupe concept? Do you share our love for it, or do you prefer the new Mercedes AMG GT 63? Share your thoughts in the comments below the gallery.