Okay. If the Saar didn’t make things clear, this hopefully will. The BMW 8 Series has received four new variants. Two out of them wear the M8 tag and the remaining two the M8 Competition tag. Drilling further – the M8 and M8 Competition marks can be found on a Coupé and a Convertible, each.

Obviously, there are a bunch of similarities amongst the four M8 derivatives. One of them is the engine – a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8. In the M8 Coupé and Convertible models, the power-plant is tuned to produce 600PS/750Nm, which is the same as it does in the M5. For the fixed- and soft-top M8 Competition versions, the engine pumps out 625PS/750Nm – exactly the same as in the M5 Competition. Other shared stuff includes an 8-speed automatic transmission and the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The latter, in pure BMW fashion, is rear-biased. For a more engaging driving experience, deactivating the dynamic stability control cuts-off power supply to the front wheels completely.

Performance figures? The M8 Coupé and Convertible can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 3.3 seconds and 3.4 seconds, respectively. The Competition-marked Coupé and Convertible variants can do the same sprint one-tenth of a second quicker than their corresponding M8 versions. The top speed for all four M8 models is by default limited to 250kmph. However, with the optional M Driver’s package, that can be increased to 305kmph.

Sure, the BMW M5 is a more practical package in comparison to the M8. However, the M8 is more pleasing to the eyes and there’s one thing that it can do and the M5 just can’t. What is it? Offer unlimited headroom. Choose either of the convertible versions of the M8 family and you can drop that soft-top in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50kmph. With the soft-top gone, the bellow from the V8 will be clearer and louder.

Adding more oomph to a car, restyling it to look angrier and slapping on a bunch of ‘M’ badges is just half the job done. The rest comes from tweaking the electronics and the mechanicals. For instance, a steel X-brace and an aluminium transverse strut are fitted to firm up the connection between the rear axle and the body. The kit also includes the M-specific adaptive system including electronically controlled dampers, an M-spec steering and a braking system with configurable pedal feel.

As you’d expect, the M8 models have a long list of standard features. That list includes a BMW Display Key, a head-up display, driving assistant, parking assistant, BMW Live Cockpit Professional with navigation and personal assistant and bunch of leather upholstery options to choose from. On the outside, the M8 models get 20-inch M-specific wheels, flared wheel arches, gills on either side, a rear spoiler and a diffuser. An M Carbon exterior package is available in the options list.

The BMW M8 models will make their world premiere in Munich later this month. Market launches will commence from the month of September 2019. Once launched, it will take the game to the likes of the Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin DB11 and the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupé.